Rio Ferdinand sends 3-word message as he begins final TNT Sports show

• The Champions League final was Rio Ferdinand's last gig for TNT Sports
• Before kick-off he tweeted a photo of himself and wrote: 'The Last Dance' 
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Saturday marked the end of an era for Rio Ferdinand as he left TNT Sports as a pundit and the Manchester United legend bowed out on a joke on screen.

And after Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan, presenter Laura Woods paid tribute to Ferdinand in the closing analysis, before allowing him to have his say. 

'I just want to say thank you to everybody that I've worked with, Ferdinand said. 

'My job was made a lot easier by the great people and friends that I have worked with and will remain friends for many years.

'As important as the people you see on the screen are the people behind the screen that do all the jobs to get us here and enable us to put our best foot forward are all appreciated. 

'Again, thank you to everybody who has been a part of it.'

Asked by former England team-mate and fellow TNT pundit Steven Gerrard if he is now going to have a 'cold beer', Ferdinand jokingly replied: 'All the beers are on me!'

Rio Ferdinand (centre left) joked that 'the beers are on me' after his final outing on TNT Sports

The Champions League final on Saturday was the pundit's final outing with the broadcaster 

Before kick-off at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Ferdinand was pictured deep in conversation with Gerrard, who recently rejected an offer to resume his managerial career with Rangers.

He was also seen embracing Inter Milan striker Marko Arnautovic in a warm exchange as the players inspected Allianz Arena pitch.

During TNT's pre-match build-up, Woods gave a nod to it being a big night for Ferdinand as he said to him on air: 'Rio, you've just been taking it all in, haven't you?'

He replied: 'Yeah, I have. I've been in the city for three days now. It's been a bit of a lads' tour. We've been loving it.' 

Saturday's farewell appearance marked the end of Ferdinand's 10-year run with TNT Sports and its predecessor BT Sport.

He had become a regular face on both domestic and European football coverage.

Around half an hour before Saturday's game got underway, Ferdinand tweeted a photo of himself next to Gerrard and Woods, captioning it: 'The Last Dance', followed by a microphone emoji. 

Confirming his departure earlier this week, Ferdinand had said: 'After 10 incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final.

Ferdinand pictured (centre) grinning wildly ahead of Saturday's Champions League final

Ferdinand, alongside Laura Woods (left) and Steven Gerrard (right) was working for TNT Sports

Inter Milan's Marko Arnautovic gave Ferdinand a pre-match hug at Munich's Allianz Arena

'Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sport and TNT Sports.'

He went on to thank behind-the-scenes staff, his family, and management team for their support over the years and said he would now focus on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast and other ventures.

Ferdinand also continues his work with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, which he launched in 2012.