Scholesy was a phenomenal footballer and when people of Zidane's ilk say things like that about you, it's not just some s**t player, is it?' Nicky Butt on Zidane's Paul Scholes compliment

"By the time he hung up his boots in 2013, Scholes had shared the Red Devils midfield alongside the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane, Christian Ronaldo and plenty more modern-day legends. One player he never lined up alongside was Zinedine Zidane, the French World Cup winner and former Juventus and Real Madrid legend, who placed Scholes' contribution to the game above all of the Salford-born star's former Old Trafford team-mates."

"Zidane was regarded as one of the finest players of his - or any - generation and has been quick to sing Scholes' praises on a number of occasions, with the Ballon d'Or winner admitting that he was a complete midfielder', who was his toughest opponent and the one player he regrets never playing with. These compliments have left Scholes' former team-mate Nicky Butt more than impressed."

""Scholesy was a phenomenal footballer and when people of that ilk say things like that about you, it's not just some s**t player, is it?, Butt tells FourFourTwo. It's probably one of the best midfielders ever to play the game. And it's not only Zidane that said it, a few other players have as well. Scholesy was up there with the best."

Paul Scholes spent 20 years at Manchester United and often shunned the spotlight, letting his play define his career. By his 2013 retirement he had partnered teammates including David Beckham, Roy Keane and Christian Ronaldo in midfield. Zinedine Zidane never played alongside Scholes but rated him highly, calling him a complete midfielder, his toughest opponent, and the one player he regretted never playing with. Nicky Butt emphasized that praise from Zidane and others underlines Scholes' standing among the best midfielders. Scholes scored 155 goals for Manchester United and remained typically coy about the acclaim.

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