Exclusive: Sir Bobby Charlton 'epitomised Manchester United' with his 'class, dignity and honour' - Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes says Sir Bobby Charlton “epitomised Manchester United” with his “class, dignity and honour” and described the death of the English football great as “devastating.”

Charlton died aged 86 on Saturday and glowing tributes have since poured in from across the football world and beyond.

As a player, Charlton made 758 appearances for United over a 17-year period, winning the club’s first European Cup in 1968, two years after he fired England to World Cup glory in 1966.

Salford-born Scholes spent his entire career at Manchester United and told TNT Sports what Charlton meant to him and to the club.

“[The news] was devastating. When you think of Manchester United, around the world he’s probably the first person that comes to mind,” said Scholes.

“Such a nice man. A wonderful man who went through a lot."

Charlton survived the Munich air disaster in 1958, when 23 people, including eight of Charlton’s team-mates, lost their lives in a plane crash.

“You think of surviving the Munich air crash and having to deal with losing people,” said Scholes.

“Then playing and winning the European Cup and the World Cup, to becoming a director and an ambassador for the club.

"He epitomised what Manchester United was - he was pure class, whether in victory or defeat, he always treated people the same and acted with dignity and honour.

"It’s a really sad loss, he meant a lot to all of us growing up.”

Scholes recalled Charlton’s involvement with the team during his playing days from 1993-2013, when the World Cup winner was still involved with the club as a director.

The England legend’s passion for the game clearly didn’t diminish, as 11-time Premier League winner Scholes revealed that Charlton would sometimes join in training sessions.

“He wasn’t there every day, but he was there every single match – home or away – with his wife. He came to the dressing room after games, congratulated you if you won, and commiserated if you lost. He was a big influence,” Scholes said.

“Early in my time playing, he actually trained with us a few times. He was brilliant.

“I can’t imagine how old he might have been, maybe in his 50s. I remember him training with us once the night before a big Champions League game in Barcelona.

“You could see how good he would’ve been 10 or 15 years earlier, but was still doing it at the age of 50-odd.

“We were quite careful around him, but you could see the ability was incredible.

"He was probably England’s best-ever footballer so it wasn’t much of a surprise how good he was, even at that age.”

He added: “You look back and think how lucky you were to have such a character and a worldwide known figure to come and just even say hello to you – it gives you a big boost, whether it’s before or after a game, congratulating or commiserating with you.”

A minute's silence will be held before Manchester United's Champions League game against FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

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