Rio Ferdinand has revealed he would have paid Paul Scholes to get him on the plane to South Africa.
Although it was said to be a close one, Scholes, unlike Jamie Carragher, snubbed Fabio Capello's final request to come out of international retirement and a potential place with England at the World Cup.
Ever since Scholes quit in 2004, there have been numerous attempts to coax him round, starting when former Manchester United assistant boss Steve McClaren succeeded Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006.
Ultimately, Scholes has chosen to commit his final few years to the Old Trafford cause.
Ferdinand knows the 35-year-old well enough to accept once his mind is made up, the chances of persuading him otherwise were always likely to be slim.
But he would have made his own contribution, because the new England skipper knows how much influence Scholes can have.
"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."
