The Manchester United and Scotland great Denis Law said he wanted to be open about his condition after becoming the latest former player to have been diagnosed with dementia. Law scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for United after making his breakthrough at Huddersfield. The Aberdeen-born striker had spells with Manchester City and Torino before heading to Old Trafford in 1962. He also remains Scotland’s joint top scorer on 30 goals but in a statement on Thursday he revealed his dementia diagnosis. “I am at the point where I feel I want to be open about my condition,” the 81-year-old Law said. “I have been diagnosed with ‘mixed dementia’, which is more than one type of dementia, in my case this being Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. “This has been an extremely difficult year for everyone and the long periods of isolation have certainly not helped. It is an incredibly challenging and problematic disease and I have witnessed many friends go through this. “You hope that it won’t happen to you, even make jokes about it whilst ignoring the early signs because you don’t want it to be true. You get angry, frustrated, confused and then worried. Worried for your family, as they will be the ones dealing with it. “However the time has come to tackle this head on, excuse the pun. I recognise how my brain is deteriorating and how my memory evades me when I don’t want it to and how this causes me distress in situations that are beyond my control. “I do understand what is happening and that is why I want to address my situation now whilst I am able, because I know there will be days when I don’t understand and I hate the thought of that right now. In the height of the pandemic I said I hoped that if one positive was to come out of it, it would be that it would make people kinder to each other, so that’s what I am hoping for now.” Law is not alone in battling the condition, with the Football Association supporting two ongoing research studies examining former professionals for early signs of neurocognitive degeneration. The England World Cup winners Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, Ray Wilson and Martin Peters are among those to have died from the disease, while Sir Bobby Charlton was diagnosed with dementia in November. Law said: “I don’t want people to be saddened if I forget places, people or dates because you need to remember I enjoyed all those memories and I am lucky to have experienced what I have in my life ... a loving and supportive family, a great career doing what I loved and getting paid to do it, and lifelong friends. “I have good days and bad days and aim to take each day as it comes adjusting my lifestyle accordingly. I hung up my football boots a long time ago and now it’s time to put my signing days behind me too, so apologies to anyone who has sent me anything but I am just not able. I am trying to be positive and determined to continue watching my club, Manchester United at Old Trafford, hopefully this will be a season of success and I am excited by the new signings that Ole and the club have made.” Law is immortalised in the United Trinity statue outside of Old Trafford alongside the late George Best and Charlton. United said in a statement: “Denis Law will always be one of this club’s greatest legends and everybody at Manchester United sends our love and best wishes to him and his family. We know our fans around the world will also rally behind him. We applaud Denis’s brave words and will continue to offer whatever support we can as he adapts to this challenging condition.”