Rio Ferdinand confirms he will not appear on TNT Sports' punditry team for Bayern Munich's Champions League clash vs Real Madrid... after pulling out of filming Monday's Vibe With Five podcast with illness

Rio Ferdinand has confirmed that he his set to 'miss' TNT Sports' live coverage of Tuesday's huge Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. 

Earlier this week, the former Manchester United defender, who works as a pundit for TNT Sports, was forced to pull out of recording his own podcast through illness.

Ferdinand, who hosts the Vibe With Five Podcast alongside co-presenters Joel Beya and Stephen Howson every week, took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that he would not be a part of TNT Sports' punditry team for Tuesday's semi-final clash. 

Ferdinand wrote: 'Gutted to be missing out tonight… hopefully be back on screen tomorrow! Big love to the TNT Sports team!'

On Monday, the 45-year-old was forced to postpone recording his podcast, Vibe With Five, with his co-host revealing that Ferdinand 'had not been feeling very well.'

Rio Ferdinand will not be present for TNT Sports' Champions League coverage on Tuesday

'Yes people, just to let you know Vibe With Five has been postponed this week as Rio hasn’t been feeling too well,' Beya wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

'We will be back on Monday for another episode of Vibe With Five. Please wish my guy Rio a good recovery.' 

Ferdinand had also not been present for TNT Sports' Premier League coverage, this weekend, with the pundit being a regular face on their broadcasts throughout the season. 

The defender would enjoy a glittering career, winning six Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man United. 

He would make 503 Premier league appearances, turning ut for West Ham Bournemouth, United, Leeds and QPR, before hanging up his boots in 2015. 

He'd subsequently move into broadcasting, joining up with BT Sports (now TNT Sports) later that year, alongside Gary Lineker, Steven Gerrard and Glen Hoddle as the faces of the television giant's Champions League coverage. 

Since then, Ferdinand has regularly appeared on the broadcaster's shows, delivering insightful opinions on the world of football. 

The 45-year-old most recently delivered a candid take on Chelsea's 5-0 drubbing against Arsenal in the Premier League last Tuesday.

Ferdinand claimed during TNT Sports' coverage that: 'Chelsea were second best and this was men against boys.

'Yes, Chelsea had a young team, but it doesn't always play out that way, as sometimes young players come out with a bit of fearlessness.

'They've been good in big games in recent weeks, but today I thought they were way off it. No Palmer. They were men against boys and got absolutely destroyed today.' 

On his podcast, Ferdinand has recently interviewed some huge names from within the sport, including former Chelsea and Man United manager Jose Mourinho.