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London - After deciding to reinstate John Terry as England captain, coach Fabio Capello claimed Rio Ferdinand rejected a chance to hear why the armband was taken off him.
Capello planned to explain to Ferdinand at Manchester United's Champions League match against Marseille why Terry has been forgiven for his off-field conduct.
The 32-year-old Ferdinand didn't play on Tuesday because of a calf injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season. Injuries have restricted the defender to just four England appearances since replacing Terry as captain in February 2010.
"I tried to meet him at the Manchester United-Marseille game," Capello said. "He was ready to meet me but he preferred not to meet us. I don't know ... I hope I will meet him in the future to speak with him personally and privately, not by phone because I think by phone is not so good."
The 30-year-old Terry was stripped of the captaincy in February 2010 after allegations he had an affair with teammate Wayne Bridge's former girlfriend. The rift led to Bridge quitting international football.
"After what happened, I decided that John Terry, after one year of punishment, will be the permanent captain (again)," Capello said. "He understood the mistake and he learnt from his mistakes ... he will be a very important captain for us because when I choose him, I know he is a leader."
With England playing neighbor Wales in a 2012 European Championship qualifier on March 26, Capello believes the team needs a strong leader like Terry wearing the armband.
"The game against Wales will be a really tough game," Capello said. "The atmosphere, everything, is incredible, and we need a captain with a big personality, a leader. John, also when he played without the armband, was every time a leader on the pitch, a leader in the dressing room. He was really good every time."
Since it emerged a week ago that Capello wanted to reappoint Terry, his handling of the situation has been widely criticized by English media columnists.
Vice-captain Steven Gerrard will now be No. 3 in the pecking order behind Terry and Ferdinand, Capello said.
England was second in Group G, three points behind leader Montenegro having played one fewer qualifier.
