Roy Keane claims Paul Scholes was too lazy to do interviews as a player and suspects it is big cheques that have persuaded his old Manchester United team-mate to enter TV punditry.

Scholes gave few interviews during his 19-year playing career and was portrayed as a shy off-field character, but the former England midfielder is a regular fixture on the small screen now having signed deals with ITV and BT Sport.

Keane, the former United captain who played alongside Scholes for 11 years, told Shortlist magazine: "People don't realise Scholesy could have done [TV work] at United but he couldn't be a***d."

Keane, now assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland and Aston Villa, added: "People thought he was camera-shy; he just couldn't be bothered. None of us liked doing interviews, but . . . you shared the load."