Reason Gary Neville was absent from Sky Sports to work for another broadcaster revealed as fans question disappearance
THE reason behind Gary Neville’s temporary switch from Sky Sports to NBC has been revealed.
Viewers in England expected to see the Manchester United legend on punditry and commentary duty yesterday as his former side were hammered 4-1 by Newcastle.
But Neville was not on British TV and was instead sharing his thoughts across the pond for NBC Sports.
Fans were left questioning his disappearance, with one saying: “Doesn’t he have a contract with Sky?”
Another commented: “Did Gary Neville bottle Newcastle away on Sky?”
And a third wrote: “Why on Earth is Neville in the USA?”
The reason for the 50-year-old gracing American screens is down to a deal struck between Sky and NBC.
Both companies are owned by Comcast and before the start of the Premier League season Neville agreed to being “a special contributor” for the channel.
A Sky statement at the time read: “As part of a collaboration between Sky and NBC, Gary Neville will join NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage as a special contributor each Sunday throughout the 2024-25 season which will come predominantly via his live appearances for Sky Sports.
“Sky Sports are working through plans for Gary to be part of NBC’s live studio coverage in New York on up to four weekends this season.
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“These appearances will be authorised by Sky and will not occur on any big head-to-head weekends.
“We anticipate Gary’s appearances across the season on Sky Sports to be the same as the previous two seasons on the current Premier League contract.”
After Man Utd‘s defeat to Newcastle yesterday, he ripped into the Red Devils, saying: “They are not a very good team. Simple as that.
“My biggest worry is that there have been United teams in the last six, seven years where you thought they are talented players but they are not giving it their all.
“This group of players are giving it their all, I don’t think there is a lack of effort, but they are so below the standard of quality you need at that football club all over the pitch.
“Other than Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo I can’t think of any of them I would hang my hat on.
“It is a really desperate situation as the squad is so poor.”
Neville also laid into Arsenal during his duties in the US – but was quickly shut down, much to the delight of Gooners.
Man Utd ratings vs Newcastle as Zirkzee does well before injury but dropped Onana's stand-in has a shocker
MANCHESTER UNITED’S worst ever Premier League season was confirmed with a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle.
The Red Devils are now guaranteed to finish on less than 56 points, which is their lowest ever Prem total.
And they can only get that high if they win ALL of their last six games.
If they’re not careful, they could even finish 17th – just one spot above the marooned bottom three.
It was another dark day that reflects a poor campaign for United as Newcastle carved them open with ease in the second-half.
Ruben Amorim dropped keeper Andre Onana after his horror show against Lyon midweek.
But stand-in Altay Bayindir had a game to forget too.
Sandro Tonali’s volley, a double by Harvey Barnes and a Bruno Guimaraes finish cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s goal.
Here is how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the United performances…