Paul Scholes has questioned Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, naming Zinedine Zidane and Xavi as his preferred choice to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
United parted ways with Ten Hag on Monday with Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in to charge as interim boss. But the search for a permanent replacement is already underway with Amorim in talks to join the Premier League giants.
The 39-year-old is thought to be interested in taking the United job, with the Portuguese one of the most highly-regarded coaches in Europe after two league titles with Sporting, also thought to be admired at Manchester City.
But United legend Scholes is not convinced success in Portugal merits the Old Trafford job.
The former midfielder slammed United for ‘missing out’ on Thomas Tuchel, named the new England manager earlier this month.
Scholes also made the case for former Barcelona boss Xavi taking over but fears it is also a ‘risky one’ that poses problems of its own.
‘I felt United had missed out on him [Tuchel],’ Scholes told TNT Sport.
‘I think it was documented that they had conversations with him, as and when I’m not too sure.
‘Xavi is more recent. Manchester United are the biggest club in the world, so they need the best of the best. If they think Xavi is that man, then it’s a risky one.
‘But he’s managed at an elite level with a club very similar to Manchester United in Spain with Barcelona. They won the league against Carlo Ancelotti’s [Real Madrid] team in difficult circumstances, so I wouldn’t be against that.
‘There’s Zinedine Zidane who was very successful at Real Madrid. Whether he wants to come to England, I very much doubt. He’s another name, and then you think about Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon.
‘Again, that’s a similar one to Ten Hag, doing well in a league that isn’t as well known or of the same stature as other leagues in Europe, but has done very well.
‘Then you look at the likes of Thomas Frank, but then the expectations at Brentford are less than at Manchester United.
‘Thomas Tuchel would have been my man, but that’s now gone. However, there are still people out there who have a chance to make the team successful.’
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