Rio Ferdinand names real reason he quit TNT Sports after talks with chiefs | Football | Sport
Rio Ferdinand has opened up on the reason he quit TNT Sports after working as a pundit on the channel for many years. The former Manchester United and England defender was a regular analyst for Champions League matches until the end of last season. He spent a decade with the broadcaster before stepping back from his role in the summer.
Now, the 47-year-old has explained why he left. He said that he decided to reject a new contract after TNT Sports bosses refused to entertain his ideas to improve their coverage. Ferdinand also wanted to pursue his own ambitions independently of the channel, primarily through his YouTube channel and podcast.
In an interview with Men’s Health, he said: “I like being tested. I like pressure. I had it fine at TNT. I could have signed a new contract at TNT easily, but that ain’t who I am really. It’s time for something new.
“And with all due respect, I’d been trying to push [a new] side of things within the team and the group at TNT, and they weren’t really as receptive as I would’ve liked.
“So that was another big reason why I go: ‘Okay, if you’re not going to jump in two-footed with me and hold hands, then I move on. We’ll see how I do when I go on my own’.
“Because I saw the new world is that linear TV and live football are always going to be there, but there’s also another world outside the 90 minutes that intrigues me, which I look at like a fan.
“So I want to know what the f*** these guys are eating, how do they sleep, how do they recover? I want to get the public closer to that and I want to be at the forefront of that.
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“But at the same time, this is just who I am. I’m not trying to be no one, I’m me. I do my own s***. I’ve always been in my own lane.”
Since leaving TNT Sports, Ferdinand has hosted the World Cup group stage draw and appeared in a skit for the ceremony. His YouTube channel has also flourished and it currently boasts over 1.5million subscribers.
Ferdinand has remained vocal about his former club United and believes Michael Carrick should be offered the permanent manager’s job if he does enough to earn it.
“People are telling me that no matter what Michael Carrick does, he shouldn’t get an opportunity to manage United,” he said.
“Where the hell are you people coming from? The disrespect is unbelievable for someone to say no matter what this person does, he doesn’t deserve to be given the keys to Man Utd. On what grounds are you saying that? That’s mad talk.”
