If only it went through..

Benni McCarthy.. Top-scorer in the Portuguese league last year and more importantly, helped Porto to clinch the prestigious UEFA Champions League..

It would have made the Rooney transfer less sour but now it's salt to the wound..ouch..

"The deal was done, I had agreed everything with Everton," said McCarthy on Tuesday. "I was expecting to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo (for Bafana's 2006 World Cup qualifier on Sunday) buzzing, thinking about going to play in Liverpool."

McCarthy was even supposed to go to the British Embassy in Pretoria on Tuesday to finalise his work permit before the evening's transfer deadline.

Then, at the last minute, lightning struck in the same way for a third time for him. According to the striker, Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa decided he did not want to let his No 77 go.

McCarthy's dissapointment