Man Utd defender Ferdinand: I would have paid for Scholes to play for England

England captain Rio Ferdinand says he would have paid for Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes to have ended his international retirement.

Although it was said to be a close one, Scholes, unlike Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, snubbed Fabio Capello's final request to come out of international retirement and a potential place with England at the World Cup.

"I would have paid him to come," said Ferdinand. "That is no detriment to any of the other players but I think he would have added to the squad.

"Unfortunately, it is not to be. You don't cry over spilt milk. He is not coming, so we move on."

Ferdinand did add to the weight of Capello's pleas by seeking Scholes out for a few words himself.

Not that he really needed to. And if, on July 11, the day before United set off on their pre-season tour of the US, Ferdinand is lifting the World Cup at Soccer City, triggering the most momentous occasion the country has known since 1966, he accepts that Scholes will harbour not even the smallest amount of regret.

"Scholesy is just a very black-and-white character - no frills, no messing about," he said.

"He thought about it with his family and he came to his decision. But he isn't the type of person who, if we do really well at the tournament, would have it burning away at him.

"He will be comfortable with the decision he has made."