Fabio betrays ‘captain’ Rio

Posted Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

RIO FERDINAND was left humiliated last night after being lied to over the England captaincy.

Three Lions boss Fabio Capello confirmed John Terry will regain the armband - even though his No 2 assured Ferdinand on Sunday he would keep the job on his return from injury.

Amazingly, Capello broke the news to journalists without Ferdinand knowing anything about it.

Last night the England boss was on his way to Manchester for clear-the-air talks with the United defender.

Capello said: "I will go up to Manchester to see Rio and find out about his fitness.

"I will then explain the situation.

"I also have to speak with John Terry and the other players."

Asked whether he thought it would be a difficult meeting with Ferdinand, Capello said: "Why? He is still a very important player to us.

"I will explain what has happened and why I feel the way I do.

"It's not that I don't think he is a good captain. In fact, I think that both he and Steven Gerrard have done a great job.

"Sure, I will understand if he is not happy. But as manager I have to make difficult decisions."

The shock announcement came just 24 hours after Capello's assistant Franco Baldini made a personal phone call to Ferdinand, assuring him he would keep the captaincy if fit.

Ferdinand had texted Baldini asking for clarification of his position after reports Terry, 30, could be getting his job.

Baldini assured the centre-back it had been a misunderstanding.

However, Capello now believes England require more of Terry's bulldog spirit and ability to rally the team on the pitch.

Terry, stripped of the captaincy after his alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend, was not happy with the way he was overlooked when the armband was handed to one player after another during the recent friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Capello said: "I feel that Terry has been punished enough for one mistake.

"I need to make a decision about this.

"It does not need to be captain for one game. It needs to be permanent.

"Terry is also old enough to realise what is expected from the captain of England, the captain of Chelsea and one of the best players in the world. He knows he has to be trusted.

"At the same time, we have to remember that he was always my first choice as captain.

"Rio was No 2 - until Terry's mistake."