Paul Scholes: Even Lionel Messi would struggle at Manchester United

The former Old Trafford midfielder offered a blunt assessment of the state of the club where he also said Alexis Sanchez is too 'selfish', insisted he is scared they will lose players like Anthony Martial who will go on to prove themselves elsewhere, and that the players might be underperforming to get manager Jose Mourinho sacked.

“It feels like every player who comes into the team struggles," Scholes told ESPN. “I feel like we could sign Lionel Messi at the moment and he'd struggle in this team.

"I hate going back and saying 'when we played, we did this and we did that", but I look at the current squad of players and I don't think there's a lack of quality there.

"I do think they miss a couple of real class players that other top teams seem to have – a link player and also a controlling midfield player.

"I'm thinking more of a Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard or David Silva. We have Jesse Lingard who, on his day, can be that type of player, but you never really know what his best position is."

Scholes went on to discuss Martial as well as Marcus Rashford – a pair of players he believes need to play consistently to improve their form.

The 43-year-old continued: “Martial and Rashford, two really talented players, they need to develop their confidence. It scares me that these really talented players will be sold and be brilliant for another club. I could see that happening with Martial.

“It's difficult for him and Rashford to find some confidence because they come in for a game, they might not have the best game and then they're out for three or four matches.”

In comments that will also strike fear into all United fans, Scholes also said he believes that the Old Trafford club are turning into the ‘new Liverpool’.

He is worried that the club is more concerned about making money than performances on the pitch.

“It feels like they (United) have lost sight of the most important thing at a football club, which is what happens on the pitch,” he added. “The club are great at making money but how long can that last when the team are playing so badly?

“It shouldn't make any difference but it does. United now feels like Liverpool from years ago, like we're making all the same mistakes as they did.

Scholes also took aim at big-money signings Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.

Of the former Arsenal player, he said: “I know he has qualities and has been a good player, but I never saw him as a United player.

“I saw him as a bit selfish, someone who played for himself sometimes. I didn't think he was a player that we needed, especially for that type of money.

“How would we be able to get rid of him now when he earns those wages? The signing felt like it happened just to stop Man City signing him.”

As for Lukaku, who scored goals consistently at Everton and had a good World Cup for Belgium, he added: “I'm just not sure you are ever going to win the league with a goal scorer like him. I don't think his play outside of the box is good enough.

“Lukaku is one of many United players who look like they're short of confidence. I don't think he realises how good he can be, but he needs help because who else can play centre-forward at United now?”

Manager Jose Mourinho did not escape the ire of the former England midfielder, either, with Scholes saying it is possible he may have lost the faith of the players, who may want him axed.

“I was never in a team, be it Man United or England, where I went out with the intention of getting a manager sacked,” Scholes added.

“I never went out and thought ‘I'll not try’. I'm not saying that any Man United player has ever done that, but you hear so much stuff now that you think it could be possible. I'd hate that if it's true, if any player set out to play badly on purpose.

“When you looked at the West Ham game last week, it looked like the biggest sign of players not wanting to play for Jose, but I wouldn't sack him.

“I hope the situation is retrievable. I'd like Jose to show people why he's such a great coach because this is his biggest test in football.”