Man Utd legend Scholes reveals he considered Everton move
Man Utd legend Paul Scholes has revealed that he considered a move to Everton after coming out of retirement in 2012.
Scholes chose to retire in 2011 following a long career with the Red Devils but after only four months out of the game he wanted to return.
The former England international started training again with the club’s under-23s before Man Utd offered him a deal to come back.
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However, Scholes has revealed that in his desperation to play again, Everton became an option he considered.
“I came back in September with Warren Joyce and the U23s and I was training every day,” Scholes told DAZN.
“I felt as fit as I’d probably ever had done after having four months off – it was just the break I needed. I said to Joyce that I wanted to play again – I just wanted to play.
“Where it was I don’t care. I didn’t expect United to want me back. I spoke to Phil Neville and he said: ‘Come and play for Everton’.
“I’ve never really wanted to play for anyone else or be involved with any other club but if that was the only option I had then I might have done it, I don’t know.”
Sir Alex Ferguson eventually offered Scholes a six-month deal at Old Trafford and the former midfielder admits he was surprised when his former gaffer agreed to re-sign him.
“The next step had to be Mike Phelan, the assistant manager. I must have spoke to him at half 7 in the morning because I was so nervous the night before waiting to see what he thought and he thought it was a great idea,” Scholes added.
“Then there’s only one more person to get through which was the most important. As soon as I saw Mick I went to see the manager and told him I want to play again.
“I said that I feel fit and I feel okay and [he said]: ‘Do you want to play here or do you want to go somewhere else?’.
“There’s no way I wanted to go somewhere else. He said: ‘Right I’ll sort your contract out’ and that was within 5 minutes.
“He was on the phone to David Gill and I think it was the next day I signed for another six months. And then you think ‘What have I done?!’.
“He brought me into the squad to play Man City in the FA Cup. He told me not to tell anybody and the players had absolutely no idea. My wife knew and I think I might have told my dad but nobody else knew.
“We get to the ground on the Sunday and my kit is there. I actually couldn’t get any boots. They couldn’t know I was playing. If I asked for a real pair from Nike then they’d know something was going on. I went to the local JJB and I think they were £40 at the time which I thought was quite expensive.”
Mark Smith and Matt Stead know all about disappointments. Join them to discover that Chelsea are the only Big Six club without representation on this week’s top ten.