Paul Scholes returns to his first love, Oldham Athletic, glad to turn his back on the media machine

A mini-bus carrying five former Manchester United players in June 2017 struggled to leave Beijing University. On board, Paul Scholes waved and smiled at the crowd of students who surrounded the bus, taking pictures and shouting his name. One girl appeared overcome with emotion.

Along with Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville, Scholes was in Hong Kong and then Beijing on a five-a-side tour where his passing was almost as crisp as when he played, even if his legs were not.

“Do you miss all this adulation?” I asked as Scholes received more attention than any of his teammates.

“Not really because I never wanted it in the first place; it just comes with what you do,” Scholes replied. “I do miss playing football and being involved in football. I’d like to manage, definitely. I’ll get all my badges sorted first.”

Wind forward to October 2018 and a cafe in Manchester. Scholes is in the news because of his outspoken comments about Manchester United’s failing fortunes. Except that in his mind – and those of many United fans – they’re accurate.

“I say what I believe,” he explained. “I don’t make anything up and I’m not very good at hiding how I feel. If people ask me something I’ll give my view, whether it’s right or wrong. I’m just a frustrated United fan, a father of a son who goes home and away watching the team.”