Paul Scholes has hit out at the quality of players in the Premier League – claiming that only Sergio Aguero would get into the Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich squad.

The former Manchester United midfielder, who scored 155 goals in 718 appearances, made the claims following Champions League defeats for Chelsea and Arsenal.

With Scholes claiming that a lack of quality in the Premier League, rather than a lack of strength in depth, was the reason behind English clubs struggling in Europe.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has hit out at the quality of players in the Premier League

Scholes claims only Sergio Aguero would get into the Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich squads

‘If you look at the quality of player that comes to England I don’t think we have the best players in Europe or in the world,’ Scholes told BT Sport.

‘The best players are at Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. I think the level below that is probably Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. And under that is where the quality of English clubs come into it.

'I really don’t think it’s any surprise. When you think about the quality of players we have, do you think any of the players at our top clubs now would get in the Barcelona team? I very much doubt it.

‘They wouldn’t get in the Real Madrid team or the Bayern Munich team. Maybe Sergio Aguero is the exception.’

Brazilian Maicon celebrates after scoring against Chelsea as the Blues lost in the Champions League