Paul Scholes has never been a man to hide his feelings, and once again the Manchester United legend has caused a stir in English football with his latest comments, this time aimed at Manchester City’s newest star signing, Antoine Semenyo. The former United midfielder, who spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford and became one of the most respected midfielders of his generation, has openly said that Semenyo would have been better suited to Manchester United than Manchester City. In typical Scholes fashion, the words were honest, direct, and guaranteed to spark debate across the Premier League.
Antoine Semenyo’s move to Manchester City has already been one of the biggest talking points of the January transfer window. Just days ago, the powerful winger completed a massive £65 million transfer from Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium, a move that instantly raised eyebrows across the football world. City did not hesitate to trigger the release clause in Semenyo’s Bournemouth contract, beating off competition from several top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Pep Guardiola got his man, and City fans quickly began dreaming about how the Ghana international would fit into an already star-studded squad.
Semenyo wasted no time making an impression. On his debut, he scored in Manchester City’s jaw-dropping 10-1 victory over Exeter City in the FA Cup. It was the kind of introduction every new signing dreams of, especially one arriving with such a hefty price tag. His goal, movement, and physical presence immediately caught the eye, and many City supporters felt the club had pulled off another masterstroke in the transfer market. But while City fans were celebrating, Paul Scholes was watching with a different perspective.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes made it clear that while he admires Semenyo as a player, he is not fully convinced that Manchester City actually needed him. According to Scholes, Semenyo’s profile fits Manchester United far more than Pep Guardiola’s finely tuned City machine. For Scholes, it was not about doubting Semenyo’s quality, but about questioning whether his style truly matches what City have traditionally valued under Guardiola.
Scholes described Semenyo as a player built on pace and power, someone who thrives on direct running, physical battles, and explosive moments. These are qualities that Manchester United fans have often begged their club to prioritize in recent years, especially during periods where the team has looked slow, predictable, and lacking intensity. Scholes argued that Semenyo does not possess the kind of intricate, technical style that City usually demand from their attackers. He referenced past City greats like David Silva and current stars like Phil Foden, players known for their close control, intelligence in tight spaces, and ability to dominate possession-heavy systems.
To Scholes, Semenyo feels like a different type of attacker. He does not see him as the typical Guardiola winger who hugs the touchline, drifts into half-spaces, and plays quick combinations around the box. Instead, Scholes sees a player who wants space to run into, who wants defenders isolated one-on-one, and who thrives when the game becomes open and physical. These are traits Scholes believes would have been perfectly suited to Manchester United’s needs.
Scholes did not stop there. He went further by suggesting that Semenyo’s role at City will be very different from the one he enjoyed at Bournemouth. At the south coast club, Semenyo was the main man. Everything went through him. He was the player Bournemouth relied on in big moments, the one expected to score goals, create chances, and lift the team when things became difficult. Over the past 12 months, Semenyo has been one of the most exciting players in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals since the start of the 2024-25 season. His rise had been rapid, and his performances made it clear he was ready for a step up.
But according to Scholes, moving from being a “big fish in a small pond” to just another star in Manchester City’s galaxy of talent is not always easy. At City, Semenyo is no longer the focal point. He is one of many world-class attackers competing for minutes, attention, and influence. Scholes compared this situation to Jack Grealish’s move from Aston Villa to Manchester City. At Villa, Grealish was the undisputed talisman, the player everything revolved around. At City, despite winning trophies and contributing, Grealish had to adjust to a system where individuality is often sacrificed for collective control.
Scholes believes Semenyo may face a similar challenge. He acknowledged that any team would love to have a player like Semenyo, but questioned whether City’s resources might have been better spent elsewhere. In his view, City’s real needs lie in defensive areas, such as centre-back and right-back, rather than adding yet another attacker to an already stacked frontline.
This opinion was echoed by another former Manchester United midfielder, Nicky Butt. Butt also questioned the logic behind Semenyo’s move to City, describing it as more of a statement signing than a necessary one. Butt suggested that City were not desperate for a player of Semenyo’s profile and that the transfer felt more like an opportunity City chose to take rather than a problem they needed to solve. For Butt, it was not about doubting Semenyo’s ability, but about wondering where exactly he fits in a squad already overflowing with attacking options.
Despite the doubts from former United players, Manchester City remain confident they have signed a special talent. Semenyo has committed his future to the club until 2031, a long-term deal that signals City’s belief in his potential. He will wear the number 42 shirt, a number previously worn by Yaya Toure, a club legend whose name alone carries enormous weight among City supporters. While shirt numbers do not define careers, the symbolism is not lost on fans who see it as a sign of trust and ambition.
Semenyo himself has spoken with pride and excitement about joining Manchester City. In his first interview after completing the transfer, he described the move as a dream come true. He spoke about the club’s world-class standards, elite facilities, and the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, whom he described as one of the greatest managers ever. For Semenyo, this move represents not just a step up, but a chance to develop his game to new levels.
He openly admitted that he still has plenty of room for improvement and believes City is the perfect environment for him at this stage of his career. At 25 or 26 years old, depending on how one counts his development years, Semenyo is entering what many consider a footballer’s prime. Guardiola himself highlighted this point, stating that Semenyo is at the perfect age, with his best years still ahead of him.
Guardiola also revealed that City had been monitoring Semenyo for a long time. This was not a rushed decision or a panic buy. According to the City boss, the club had followed Semenyo’s progress closely at Bournemouth, impressed by his ability to play on both sides of the attack, his understanding of the Premier League, and his consistency over the past season and a half. Guardiola emphasized that many clubs wanted Semenyo, but the player chose City, a decision Guardiola clearly respects.
Semenyo’s final moments at Bournemouth only added to the drama surrounding his transfer. In his last game for the club, he scored a dramatic injury-time winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham. It was a perfect farewell, a moment that summed up his importance to Bournemouth and underlined why so many top clubs were eager to sign him. That goal felt like a final statement, a reminder of his match-winning ability before stepping onto a much bigger stage.
From Manchester United’s perspective, Scholes’ comments have reopened old wounds among fans. Many United supporters cannot help but wonder what might have been if the club had moved faster or shown more conviction in pursuing Semenyo. United have often been criticized for missing out on top talents or failing to build squads that suit the club’s traditional strengths. A player like Semenyo, with his pace, power, and directness, feels like someone who could have thrived in a United shirt, especially during periods where the team has struggled to break down stubborn defenses.
Scholes’ belief that Semenyo would have been “more suited” to United is rooted in the club’s history and identity. United have always valued wingers who can run at defenders, create chaos, and excite the crowd. From George Best to Cristiano Ronaldo, from Ryan Giggs to modern wide attackers, directness has always been part of the club’s DNA. Semenyo fits that mold more naturally than the highly structured, possession-heavy style Guardiola demands at City.
Yet, football is not played in theory alone. Semenyo chose Manchester City, and that decision speaks volumes about where the modern game stands. City offer stability, trophies, elite coaching, and a clear pathway to competing at the very highest level. For a player in his prime years, those factors are hard to ignore. While Manchester United continue to rebuild and search for consistency, City remain the benchmark in English football, a machine designed to win.
The debate around whether City “need” Semenyo may ultimately prove irrelevant. Guardiola has a long history of taking players others question and turning them into vital components of his system. Many doubted the need for certain signings in the past, only for Guardiola to redefine their roles and elevate their games. Semenyo’s versatility, work rate, and willingness to learn could allow him to adapt in ways critics do not yet see.
At the same time, Scholes’ comments highlight an important truth about modern transfers. A player’s quality alone does not guarantee success. Fit matters. Style matters. Context matters. The difference between being a star and being just another option can define careers. Semenyo’s challenge at City will be to carve out an identity in a team filled with elite players, to find moments where his strengths shine without disrupting the balance Guardiola values so highly.
For now, Semenyo has started his City career in the best possible way, with a debut goal and growing confidence. City fans will hope that this is just the beginning of a long and successful chapter. Manchester United fans, meanwhile, may continue to look on with a mixture of admiration and regret, wondering how different things might have been if Semenyo had chosen Old Trafford instead.
Paul Scholes has said his piece, as he so often does. Whether he is proven right or wrong will only become clear with time. What is certain is that Antoine Semenyo’s move to Manchester City has already sparked conversation, controversy, and curiosity across the Premier League. As the season unfolds, every performance, every goal, and every tactical decision will be analyzed through the lens of this debate. Was City the perfect destination, or would Manchester United have been a better fit? For now, only the pitch can provide the answer.
