Paul Scholes has told new Manchester City signing Antoine Semenyo he would have been ‘better suited’ for rivals Manchester United.
Semenyo completed a £65m move to Man City last week and scored on his debut in Saturday’s astonishing 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter City.
Several clubs expressed interest in signing Semenyo, including Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool, but Man City won the race after meeting his Bournemouth release clause.
Semenyo has been one of the most exciting players in the Premier League over the past 12 months, scoring 21 goals since the start of the 2024-25 season.
Scholes is a huge admirer of Semenyo but has questioned whether Manchester City ‘need’ the winger and claims he is ‘better suited’ to Manchester United.
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‘They don’t need him,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘He doesn’t seem like a Man City style of player to me, do you know what I mean?
‘He’s all about pace and power, he hasn’t got the guile and the little intricate stuff that you expect at Man City like they’ve had with David Silva or Phil Foden.
‘He doesn’t seem that type of player. But you’d still love to have him, I wish we had him. He would be more suited to us.
‘He’s been like a big fish in a small pond at Bournemouth, now he’s just a normal player at Man City.
‘It’s a bit like what happened with Jack Grealish, who was unbelievable at Aston Villa, he was the talisman there like Semenyo was at Bournemouth.
‘Now it’s going to be a little bit different for him. When you look at Man City they need a centre-half and a right-back rather than another attacker.’
Scholes’ former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt also questioned Semenyo’s move to the Etihad Stadium, adding: ‘He looks like a statement signing more than someone Man City need really.
‘He wasn’t needed at City, was he? It’s not like they were desperate for that kind of player to come in.’
Semenyo signed a deal with Manchester City until 2031 and will wear the number 42 shirt previously worn by three-time title winger Yaya Toure.
After the transfer was announced, Semenyo said: ‘I am so proud to have joined Man City. They have set the highest of standards and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever.
‘I have so much scope for improvement, so to be at this club, at this stage of my career, is perfect for me. It’s a real privilege to be here. My best football is yet to come, I am sure of that.’
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Semenyo, 26, scored an injury-time winner in his final game for Bournemouth, a dramatic 3-2 win over Tottenham last week.
Discussing Semenyo’s arrival, City boss Pep Guardiola said: ‘He was extraordinary at Bournemouth, he can play on both sides, he knows the Premier League and many clubs wanted him and he decided to join us.
‘We followed him for a long time. He is the perfect age, 25 or 26 years old, so the best years are to come.’
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