Gary Neville rejected by Leicester as Jamie Carragher gets new nickname | Football | Sport

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were involved in a hilarious exchange on Sky Sports ahead of the game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest. The pair are on duty as pundits for the Premier League clash, which showed a race between the two team mascots as part of their build-up.

It was ‘Robin Hood’ who took the win over Filbert Fox, only for the victor to take off his head and reveal that it was Carragher himself in the costume.

And when the cameras panned back to the pair, working alongside presenter Kelly Cates, Neville made an amusing admission before taking a dig at his old Liverpool rival.

“You know Sky asked Leicester if I could go in the fox costume and they said no,” he revealed, while laughing. Carragher responded with “Well Filbert takes it really seriously.”

‘Carra’ then outlined the ordeal he went through to get the costume on, explaining: “Honestly, these mascots deserve the money. I mean, I was in there for 15 minutes putting it on then 15 minutes taking it off.

“And it’s a big rivalry. We know it’s a big derby game this, and there is a big rivalry between the mascots as well. So I’ve got one in there for Nottingham Forest.”

Neville then interrupted with what appeared a brutal reference to Carragher’s roots, saying: “His nickname growing up was Robin as well.” Cates joined in with: “I thought that was you, taking from the rich to give to the poor wasn’t it Gary?”

The Manchester United icon has long been a supporter of the Labour party, and regularly called out the previous Conservative Government for what he felt were unjust financial policies. Neville also owns a hotel in his home city, which he let NHS workers use for free during the Covid-19 pandemic.

All three co-workers were left chuckling away with their exchange, before the cameras panned to the more serious matter of Carragher interviewing Steve Cooper earlier in the day. The former Forest boss is facing his former side for the first time since taking over the Foxes this summer.

While the segment made for good television, and undoubtedly was enjoyed by those involved, Neville has risked upsetting Liverpool fans. The Anfield faithful have expressed their resentment in recent seasons over songs and taunts that refer to poverty in the area.

In December 2021, it was Leicester’s away supporters who riled the Reds by singing ‘Feed the Scousers’ relentlessly during a League Cup tie.