{"id":317974,"date":"2025-08-04T19:55:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T19:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/317974\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T19:55:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T19:55:19","slug":"man-united-legend-rio-ferdinand-opens-up-on-new-role-and-career-plans-after-tnt-sports-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/317974\/","title":{"rendered":"Man United legend Rio Ferdinand opens up on new role and career plans after TNT Sports exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand embarks on a new venture in football media after ending his 10-year spell as a TV pundit\"RioManchester United legend Rio Ferdinand(Image: Ash Donelon\/Manchester United via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Since calling time on his career as a professional, of which he spent 12 years at Old Trafford<\/a> winning the Premier League<\/a> six times and the Champions League<\/a> once as part of Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a>‘s side, Ferdinand<\/a> has been a regular fixture on fans’ television screens as a pundit.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, 10 years on from where it all began.<\/p>\n

The United<\/a> 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<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s been great, being honest with you. I\u2019ve been immersed in media like you guys, obviously a different format, TNT, I\u2019ve kind of moved away from that now and going with my own media company, Rio Presents, and just taking that around the world.<\/p>\n

“You lot know it better than me, it\u2019s a global game and I was in New York, Chicago last week with Man United team on tour<\/a> 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.”<\/p>\n

On what is to come, Ferdinand continued: “I\u2019m gonna be doing that all season, just going around the world, going to loads of different clubs, meeting players and interviewing players.<\/p>\n

“Loads of stuff in the pipeline coming out, Harry Maguire<\/a> interview, [Wayne] Rooney<\/a> interview. Can\u2019t wait!”<\/p>\n

And on moving away from broadcast media, the United legend continued: “Restrictions are gone.<\/p>\n

“You can be a bit more bolshy. There isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

“You\u2019re 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\u2019re doing it.”<\/p>\n

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United<\/a> coverage and analysis.<\/p>\n

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