Rio Ferdinand lands shock new job after Man Utd icon wife’s tears | Football | Sport

Rio Ferdinand appears to have secured a fresh broadcasting position in tennis following his departure from TNT Sports, with the ex-Manchester United defender spotted conducting an interview with Jannik Sinner for Tennis TV at the Qatar Open this week. Ferdinand, 47, revealed last year that he was stepping down from his position with TNT Sports after a decade with the broadcaster, where he covered both Premier League and Champions League football.

He has subsequently relocated to Dubai with his family whilst maintaining his football coverage through his YouTube channel, ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents’. During a recent discussion, Ferdinand indicated his enthusiasm for pursuing opportunities outside football – suggesting his presence at the Qatar Open might signal future ventures.

Ferdinand chatted with Sinner following the World No 2’s commanding 6-1 6-4 win over Tomas Machac in Doha, with the former Premier League champion enquiring how the Italian managed the intense heat in the Middle East. Whilst it’s unclear whether Ferdinand’s partnership with Tennis TV represents a permanent arrangement, it aligns with his ambition to embrace fresh challenges after his lengthy tenure with TNT Sports.

Speaking to Men’s Health earlier this month, the former England defender revealed the reasoning behind his decision to step away, disclosing that some of his proposals were rejected by the broadcaster. 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.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

“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. 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.”

Meanwhile, his wife, Kate, recently became emotional when she admitted she has ‘struggled’ with homesickness and living away from his two eldest sons, Lorenz and Tate, as well as her friends and family in London. Lorenz penned his first professional contract with Brighton & Hove Albion last summer while Tate is in the U21s squad of the Seagulls.

Speaking on her Blended podcast, she said: “I feel like we’ve opened our eyes to a different world. But I love London, I love the UK. I love so many things about the UK. I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me.”

Ferdinand and Kate relocated to Dubai with their five‑year‑old son, Cree, and their two‑year‑old daughter, Shae, along with the former defender’s 14‑year‑old daughter, Tia, from his first marriage to Ellison. Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, chose to remain in the UK.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate  or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.