Gary Neville takes on new role at Man Utd just days after Sir Alex Ferguson axe

Ex-Manchester United skipper Gary Neville has engaged in ambassadorial activities on a freelance basis for the club, soon after it was revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson is wrapping up his lucrative full-time ambassador role. Ferguson's exceptional accomplishments have been rewarded handsomely by United, but with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now wielding influence, he's instigated an array of budget-trimming tactics – one being the termination of Fergie's costly contract.

While several Old Trafford legends are assigned various ambassador duties, Neville recently flew to India as part of his involvement with Ratcliffe's vision for upgrading the stadium, frequently dubbed the 'Wembley of the North'. At 49, Neville featured at Mohali's Minerva academy, representing United during the Apollo Tyres' leading grassroots football venture, 'United We Play', a scheme that Apollo says aims "to enable our next-generation players to reach their optimum performance by unlocking their potential".

Manchester United legend Neville's recent involvement in an event in India, as mentioned by The Sun, was on a freelance basis amidst his flurry of professional activities which include regular punditry roles in both the UK and the US. A photograph from the Indian event captured him speaking with the Manchester United crest and various event symbols as his backdrop.

While Neville is expanding his global presence, Sir Alex Ferguson, the mastermind behind all of United's Premier League successes, spent his weekend away from Old Trafford after details of his ambassadorial contract ending came to light. Ferguson chose to watch his old team Aberdeen stage a remarkable comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Celtic at Parkhead.

Intriguingly, Ferguson has reportedly been restricted from accessing United's changing room, coinciding with his absence from the stadium. Despite this, the legendary manager received notable appreciation from certain sections of the Man United faithful during their latest home game, reports the Mirror.

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