I chose Manchester United over England because the players were selfish - but I regretted it

Playing for one's country is usually described as the pinnacle for any professional footballer.

Even in 2024, when club versus country wrangles are rife and players' workloads are being pushed to their limits, there's still space for the magic of major international tournaments.

Nothing comes close to sealing World Cup or European Championship glory. Just think back to the national outpouring of ecstasy when, for example, Luke Shaw opened the scoring for England in the final of Euro 2020. Shaw may go on to scale the heights of club football with Manchester United – but that moment with the Three Lions will follow him everywhere for all the best reasons.

It wasn't quite the same for Paul Scholes. One of the most decorated club players of all time, never mind his generation, the former United midfielder felt so disillusioned while playing for England that he left it behind at the age of just 29.

ALSO READ: Why Sir Alex Ferguson betrayed his United rule

ALSO READ: 'Silly t***' - Scholes' reaction to iconic United photo

The question he always got asked – and still asks himself – is why?

Former United player Michael Clegg revealed in his book The Power and the Glory just how much Scholes disliked England duty around the time of his early retirement in 2004.

"[Paul] said he hated playing for England, which came as a bit of a shock," said Clegg.

"I asked him why he kept turning up and he said 'Well it's England, that's what you have to do'. Paul was worried about the reaction he would get from the rest of the country if he stopped playing for England.

"I asked him if he'd ever felt the same way playing for his school team or with his mates or for United – and he said that was different. He loved that. I told him that