Rio Ferdinand has said he would have personally paid to see veteran midfielder Paul Scholes come out of International retirement for England. Fabio Capello and Sir Alex both admitted they would have liked to see Scholes play in the World Cup... but it was not to be.

Rio Ferdinand will skipper England in South Africa this summer, but will have only Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick alongside him from Old Trafford. Paul Scholes, now 35, turned-down a chance to return to International football - but Rio says his side won't be the same without him.

"I spoke to him, yeah, but Scholesy is just a very black-and-white character - no frills, no messing about. He thought about it with his family and he came to his decision. But Scholesy 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's made." he explained. 

Rio added: "But me, I would have paid him to come ! - That's no detriment to any of the other players who are here, but I think he would have added to the squad that we've got. But it's not to be. You don't cry over spilt milk. He's not coming, so we move on..."