Gareth Bale's cheeky swipe at Manchester United earlier this year has resurfaced after he officially replaced Rio Ferdinand as a pundit on TNT Sports. The incident occurred during the broadcaster's coverage of Tottenham's Europa League final win over United in May, when Bale jokingly suggested the term 'Spursy' — often used to describe Tottenham's tendency to falter — now applied to United.
Commenting on a Tottenham social media post, Bale said with a grin: 'It could be a Unitedy thing now, I'm telling you!' The remark left Ferdinand, a United legend, visibly uncomfortable. 'Can we get off air now?' he reportedly muttered.
Bale's appointment was announced on Monday alongside four other newcomers: Michail Antonio, Fara Williams, Anita Asante, and Jen Beattie. The five-time Champions League winner brings a global pedigree to the studio, having played for Real Madrid, Tottenham, and led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Unlike Ferdinand, whose analysis often focused on defence and United, Bale offers a broader perspective shaped by his experiences across top clubs. His candidness was on display when he praised former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou but added that he 'lacks a bit of a plan B'.
Ferdinand, who had been with the broadcaster since 2015, said he wanted to focus on his YouTube channel and other business interests. Bale will join a panel including Peter Crouch, Joe Cole, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, and Ally McCoist.
