Tuesday, 8th June 2010
Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes, who retired from international football in 2004, has admitted that he “probably would have accepted” Fabio Capello’s offer to return to the England setup had he been asked earlier. The midfield maestro and Jamie Carragher were both asked to reconsider their international retirements, but it was only the latter that agreed to rejoin the Three Lions.
Although there was plenty of support for the 35-year-old to return to an England side that could benefit from his exquisite distribution and vision, Scholes ultimately felt it would be unfair to take another player’s place in the squad.
"It wasn’t a case of wanting to go on holiday, it was the fact that I got the call so close to the tournament, and also I didn’t want to take the place of someone who helped get England to South Africa,” the Man Utd man said on the league’s official website. “The idea just didn’t sit comfortably with me."
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