Paul Scholes will come up against a number of his former Manchester United team-mates at Soccer Aid on Sunday, with the midfielder previously branding one of them a 'lunatic'
15:29, 15 Jun 2025
Paul Scholes concentrates during his punditry duties
Paul Scholes branded Nemanja Vidic as a 'lunatic'(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Paul Scholes once dubbed Nemanja Vidic a "lunatic" as the two are set to face off with one another at Soccer Aid.
The pair, who both made legends of themselves during Sir Alex Ferguson's incredible reign at Manchester United, will return to Old Trafford on opposite sides come Sunday evening, with the aim of raising money for Unicef. Scholes will be team up with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Gary Neville for England, while Vidic is suiting up for the World XI, joined by the likes of John O'Shea, Carlos Tevez and Edwin van der Sar.
Despite coming off as a friendly game to raise money for a dedicated cause, Scholes may head into the fold a little anxious given his past assessment of Vidic - who was notoriously one of many Manchester United hard-men on his day.
Previously speaking on the UTD podcast about what it was like to have Vidic as a team-mate, the 50-year-old said: "I was fairly good at tackling. It was all calculated. I was just getting people back. That's all I was doing.
"I never instigated. If someone got me, there's a chance I'd get them back. Vida [Vidic] had some tackles in the box, he could be a lunatic," reports the Mirror.
He added: "He didn't play as a centre half in five-a-side. He was one of those defenders that thought he could play a bit as a No. 10. You know what I mean?
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"When you get to a five-a-side a he does anything but play in his position, 'Give it to me' all that stuff. But when it came to a game he would head and kick everything.
Nemanja Vidic smiles and applauses Manchester United fans from the pitch
Nemanja Vidic will go down as a club legend at Manchester United(Image: PA)
"In training he could be a bit moody and a nuisance in the box especially but a great centre half. He was perfect for English football. He could head the ball, tackle, he was great, a really good player."
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Having forged a rock-solid partnership with Rio Ferdinand after joining United in 2006, Vidic went on to make 300 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups and the Champions League. He left United in 2014 to join Inter Milan, before hanging up his boots two years later.
Scholes, on the other hand, spent his entire professional career with United, netting 155 goals and providing 82 assists in 716 games. He and Vidic are set to line up alongside a host of celebrity players, including content creator Morgan Burtwhistle (AKA AngryGinge), Sir Mo Farah and Tony Bellew, for Soccer Aid on Sunday.
Fans can watch the action unfold live on ITV1 and ITVX from 6pm. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm.