Earlier this month, Scholes was asked to name the five best midfielders in the world right now on an episode of The Good, The Bad and The Football. He chose to omit the likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Jude Bellingham in what was a controversial list that drew criticism.
Now, the legendary midfielder has doubled down on the view and spoke on The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast about how Paris Saint Germain’s Vitinha encapsulates what he wants in the middle of the park.
"I did a top five the other week, and I didn't put people like Caicedo and Declan Rice, because I like a different type of midfielder.
"I like a Vitinha at PSG, I think he's brilliant - he's amazing. I thought (Alexis) Mac Allister last year, at Liverpool, was brilliant; now he's not started great this year.
"I really like Rice, don't get me wrong, I think he's got everything. Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary.
"He can do everything, but I don't think he does it enough. I prefer (Sandro) Tonali, but they're both good players."
Scholes then explained his decision to pick Vitinha, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions last season and came close to winning the Ballon d’Or.
"I like that more, not so much an attacking midfielder, but that more controlling one who can do a bit of everything. Not just the defensive one who just gets around it and might score the odd goal here and there, I like the more progressive type."