Former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes, has opened up about his biggest regret in football, recalling an uncomfortable encounter with legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking during an interview, Scholes revealed that after helping Manchester United win the treble in 1999-2000, Inter Milan approached him with a lucrative offer worth £4 million per year after tax — more than double his salary at Old Trafford.
Despite rejecting the move, Scholes admitted he made the mistake of asking Ferguson for a pay rise, a request the Scotsman immediately turned down.
“I was 25 and Inter Milan wanted to give me £4 million a year, tax-free. Back then, that was massive,” Scholes said.
“I actually still put up the courage to ask Fergie for a pay rise. I thought, ‘I deserve more money.’
He pulled out that little black book he always had, flipped through it, and said, ‘No, I think you’re all right. You’re level with everyone.’
That’s my biggest regret in football. My heart still beats fast thinking about it because I felt so bad doing it.”
Despite the incident, Scholes remained at Manchester United for another ten years, playing over 700 games and winning multiple Premier League and Champions League titles before retiring as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
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