Paul Scholes recalls Bobby Charlton still training with Man Utd in his sixties

25 October 2023 , 09:08

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Paul Scholes recalls Bobby Charlton still training with Man Utd in his sixties

61-year-old Sir Bobby Charlton joined in Manchester United's training session ahead of a huge Champions League clash with Barcelona in 1998.

Paul Scholes has recalled how a long-retired Charlton, who died at the age of 86 on Saturday following a three-year battle with dementia, helped United prepare for an epic 3-3 draw with Barca at the iconic Camp Nou which helped seal a place in the knockout stages. Serving as an ambassador for United, the England great was in Spain supporting Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who in November 1998 were on their way to repeating what Charlton and co did 29 years earlier by winning the European Cup.

Scholes explained to TNT Sports: "The night before we played at the Camp Nou he actually joined in training with us. I think somebody said he was 61 years of age. You look back and you realise how lucky you were to be involved with such a man. When you're brought up at this football club you're taught to have class whether you win or lose and that was Sir Bobby Charlton.

"When you see him in the dressing room he's commiserating you if you got beaten. He's congratulating you if you've won a game. 'the man just symbolised this football club, he was a picture of class you looked up to that we were happy to have around."

Charlton's infectious passion for football made him a beloved figure in the sport around the world, with Barcelona notably holding a minute's silence ahead of their 1-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. A winner of the 1966 World Cup, the same year which he claimed the coveted Ballon d'Or, the ex-United forward received a fitting tribute at Old Trafford on Tuesday when the Red Devils welcomed Copenhagen in the Champions League.

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Have your say! Is Sir Bobby Charlton the greatest English footballer of all time? Join the debate in the comments section.

Paul Scholes greatly admired Sir Bobby Charlton, who died aged 86 on Saturday (John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Scholes' former United teammate and fellow TNT Sports pundit, Rio Ferdinand, added: "He was just a fantastic human being first and foremost. A wonderful football player but the way that he carried himself as a human being was the thing that stood out for me above everything.

"The football club ran through his veins. We used to sometimes stand there and think, 'How is he still here?' He just loved this football club like not many I've ever seen before."

Nathan Ridley