The former centre-back has incredibly announced he will take to the boxing ring (Picture: Getty)
The former centre-back has incredibly announced he will take to the boxing ring (Picture: Getty)

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has aimed a little jab at ex-teammate Rio Ferdinand after the retired defender announced he would become a professional boxer.

Ferdinand, 38, retired from football back in 2015 after an underwhelming spell with Queens Park Rangers, but will make his return to the sporting arena in the boxing ring.

He is making the news official on Tuesday at a press conference, and has already been seen doing pad work with the likes of Anthony Joshua, David Haye and Tony Bellew back in January.

Ferdinand spent 12 years together at United, thriving at the back with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra (Getty)

But that has not stopped Neville from joking around with his old teammate, alongside whom he won the Champions League and five Premier League titles.

Taking to Twitter after the news broke, he messaged Ferdinand and said: ‘Hey @rioferdy5 when you’re boxing does [Nemanja] Vidic come in and take the punches whilst you cover round the back with me?’

Neville was not the only ex-pro to land a low blow on Ferdinand, with Robbie Savage also taking a shot at the former England centre-back, who he often does punditry alongside.

Ferdinand, who also played for the likes of West Ham United and Leeds United over the course of an esteemed footballing career, will first need to attain a boxing license to fight professionally.

‘Without the gym I don’t know where I would’ve had that release time,’ Ferdinand told Men’s Health in July following the death of his wife Rebecca Ellison.

‘That time just to think about nothing, or to think about something other than what was going on in my life.’

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