Rio Ferdinand has confirmed his departure from his role as a pundit with TNT Sports to concentrate on his entrepreneurial ventures.
The former Manchester United and England centre-back is bowing out after a ten-year stint, coinciding with the broadcaster’s presentation of the upcoming Champions League final between Inter and Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday.
“After ten incredible years I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final,” he revealed in a statement made to his official social media accounts.
“Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching BT Sport and TNT Sports.
“I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.
“To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals.
“The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever, and I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead.
“Lastly, I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. They have supported me to travel all over Europe following the best players and watching the best matches – for a football fan like me, it’s been a dream come true.
“As I turn the page to the next chapter, I carry with me countless memories. I am excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests.”
Ending his announcement, he added, “I hope to stay connected with you all in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything!”.
It is understood that Ferdinand’s decision to leave TNT Sports has been mutual and harmonious, hinting at potential reunions or collaborations in the offing.
The broadcaster are also very pleased with their current on-air team, but are understandably still looking the very best pundits of the highest calibre.
