Paul Scholes: Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are the best players in the Premier League
Man United legend hits out ahead of derby by saying Jose Mourinho does not have the top footballers at his disposal
PAUL SCHOLES believes the best players in the Premier League are Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
The Manchester United legend says that, with the exception of those three, the top footballers are in other countries.
Scholes, who won the Premier League 11 times under Sir Alex Ferguson, spoke ahead of this weekend's powder keg Manchester derby.
And in a withering assessment of the relative quality of top-flight football in England, he insisted there needs to be a "real step up" to compete with the rest of Europe.
Scholes, speaking in new book Class of 92: Out of our League, said: "There needs to be a real step up in quality in England.
"Other than Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, we don’t have the best players. All the best players are in other countries.
"The best players are in Spain, or at Bayern Munich and Juventus.
"We’re linked with big players – Gareth Bale is a top player – but we don’t get them now. Not anymore.
"You never see a Lionel Messi coming over here, you never see a Neymar in the Premier League."
Scholes' words are sure to hit at the heart of United fans who have seen their side splash close to £150million this summer.
That included the world record £89m capture of Paul Pogba.
And in another blow to the league he once dominated with United, Scholes said he preferred watching his lad's side.
He added: "I genuinely get more enjoyment from watching even my son’s team, Royter Town.
"It’s like a men’s team, but he’s 16. He started playing a few games for them last season. I went to watch him once, it was 5-4. It’s just entertainment.
"There’s some good players, really good players, but it’s not always the best for quality.
"In the Premier League in the last two years, have I really seen a game of high quality? A game that I’ve thought, 'Wow!'? It’s difficult to think of any.
"Then I think of games abroad that I’ve watched: Real Madrid–Barcelona, Bayern Munich–Borussia Dortmund, proper games of football.
"I can’t imagine Real Madrid players, Barcelona players, watching our games and being as excited as we are to watch a Real Madrid–Barcelona game or a Bayern–Dortmund game or Juventus–Roma.