Paul Scholes has experience of top players wanting to leave his club.
Manchester United may be one of the world’s biggest clubs, but both Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney made attempts to leave the club during Scholes’ time at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo sought to leave United in 2008, but the club reached a compromise with him and the Portuguese forward left the following year for Real Madrid.
In October 2010, Rooney handed in a transfer request, and was linked with a controversial transfer to Manchester City. The England captain remained at the club, and signed a new contract.
Following Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday evening, Paul Scholes was asked about Diego Costa’s situation at Chelsea. The Brazilian-born striker reportedly had a bust-up with Chelsea coaching staff and was left out of the squad for their latest victory.
Here's @dionfanning on Chelsea, Diego Costa and loyalty in football https://t.co/lGqIYfcwLp
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 15, 2017
Costa is said to have a £30m a year offer from the Chinese Super League on the table. Dimitri Payet is involved in a somewhat similar stand-off at West Ham United.
The French midfielder, like Costa, has had his head turned. However, unlike Costa, Payet has reportedly refused to train with his team and has openly made it known he sees his future elsewhere.
Scholes’ response to the situation facing both players offered an interesting insight into the reaction of the rest of the dressing room to such a situation.
Scholes was asked how did he react to his teammates wanting to leave United. Did he ever persuade Ronaldo and Rooney to stay?
“No not one bit. Why?” Scholes said on BT Sport.
“They are old enough to make their own minds up. If they don’t want to play for the football club anymore, then so what?
“My job, on a Saturday afternoon or a Tuesday or Wednesday night, was to go out and win the game with my teammates and whoever is playing, I don’t care as long as we win.”
"You soon get over it" – Paul Scholes says losing Costa won't define Chelsea this season. #LeiChe https://t.co/yCjAkzt9Wx
— eir Sport (@eirSport) January 14, 2017
Scholes, unsurprisingly, thinks Chelsea should let Costa go if he wants to leave the club.
“That’s his decision, if he wants to go, let him. The most important players at a big club are the players who are on the pitch and on the sidelines.”
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