Paul Scholes says he was surprised that Jack Wilshere chose to join Bournemouth, rather than take up the offer of a loan move to either AC Milan or Roma.
The former England and Manchester United midfielder believes the Arsenal player "may have set his sights too low" by opting for a loan spell on the south coast, as he attempts to battle back to full fitness and confidence.
Wilshere has been allowed to leave the Gunners on loan, but Scholes thinks a season abroad in Serie A would have benefited the 24-year-old's career more than a trip to the Dorset coast.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I would have liked to have seen him, if he did have to leave Arsenal, go to a big club like Roma.
"Get some experience abroad, I think that would have been great for him and would have been great for the England team as well."
And Scholes says that playing for a smaller team does not guarantee first team football, which may have become a problem had he stayed at the Emirates.
Scholes added: "Just because he is going to Bournemouth, doesn't mean he is going to play all the time.
"He has to perform whatever club you are at, whether you are at Bournemouth, Arsenal, Man United or Roma.
"You still have to perform to play first team football. I'm sure there are other players at Bournemouth who are saying 'I'm going to be playing instead of Jack - I want his place'.
"It always comes back to whether he is fit. I don't know how his ankles are - I know he struggles with them.
"If he stays fit then there is no doubt he is the top player there. But he should be playing for a top three or four club in England and that is what he should be aiming for. I just worry a little that he has set his sights too low."