'I'm a meme because of my team!' - Rio Ferdinand blames Man Utd for making him 'the butt of a lot of jokes' after TNT Sports exit

Ferdinand’s connection with United runs deep. The former England international enjoyed a highly successful spell at Old Trafford, lifting six Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson. But in stark contrast to those glory days, the current era has offered little to celebrate.

The frustrations of Ferdinand are hardly unfounded, as the 2024–25 campaign was one of United’s darkest in over half a century. Finishing 15th in the Premier League table marked their worst league performance in 51 years. Their woes continued on the European stage, as they fell short in the Europa League final, losing to Tottenham Hotspur.

As someone who helped enhance the club’s legacy, being forced to witness its collapse from the pundit’s chair was a painful irony for Ferdinand, who stepped down from his role as a TNT Sports pundit after the Champions League final. In a heartfelt conversation with ESPN Brasil, he said: "It's sad, man. I'm on TV, I've got to talk about this stuff. I'm on the TV, everyone can take the mick out of me. I'm a meme sometimes on social media because of my team.

"So it's hard, man, I'm doing punditry in the worst possible time in Manchester through this terrible moment. So I more than anyone, as much as anybody, want Man United to get back just for the reason that so I can shout and give some banter back to these guys because I've been the butt of a lot of jokes because of United at the moment."

With European football off the table, United’s schedule will be significantly lighter next season. Barring any extended domestic cup runs, the Red Devils are expected to play just once a week for most of the campaign. This rare gap in their calendar might offer a silver lining, giving the squad ample recovery and preparation time between matches.

With a long summer ahead and major questions surrounding management, recruitment, and leadership, Manchester United face a pivotal few months. They will return to action in the form of a pre-season friendly against old rivals Leeds United on July 19 at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.