Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand embarks on a new venture in football media after ending his 10-year spell as a TV pundit
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has described his future career plans after stepping away from his role with TNT Sports at the end of last season.
Since calling time on his career as a professional, of which he spent 12 years at Old Trafford winning the Premier League six times and the Champions League once as part of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s side, Ferdinand has been a regular fixture on fans’ television screens as a pundit.
He primarily did so for TNT Sports, formerly known as BT Sport, but the ex-defender called time with the broadcaster at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, 10 years on from where it all began.
The United legend is not moving away from media in the slightest, however, as he pivots to focus on building his own company, Rio Presents. In an appearance on talkSPORT he was able to delve into what it has been like over the summer months, during which the former defender travelled across the US in an Ineos Grenadier 4×4 alongside ex-United teammate Wayne Rooney.
Ferdinand also opened up on his excitement for the venture to take off when the new football season begins. Asked what he has been doing recently, Ferdinand replied: “Flying around the world, meeting loads of footballers and loads of fans.
“It’s been great, being honest with you. I’ve been immersed in media like you guys, obviously a different format, TNT, I’ve kind of moved away from that now and going with my own media company, Rio Presents, and just taking that around the world.
“You lot know it better than me, it’s a global game and I was in New York, Chicago last week with Man United team on tour and it is just like the fanfare there is ridiculous. Much more than when I used to go as a player. You can see the game.”
On what is to come, Ferdinand continued: “I’m gonna be doing that all season, just going around the world, going to loads of different clubs, meeting players and interviewing players.
“Loads of stuff in the pipeline coming out, Harry Maguire interview, [Wayne] Rooney interview. Can’t wait!”
And on moving away from broadcast media, the United legend continued: “Restrictions are gone.
“You can be a bit more bolshy. There isn’t like a corporation behind you that have to answer a lot of questions and tiptoe around some people sometimes or certain topics, so this is gonna be a lot more free, kinda off the cuff.
“You’re talking to players, managers, people that run football clubs, the inner workings of a football club, being that bit more authentic and having that ability to move about a bit more freely. It shows when you’re doing it.”
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