Wayne Rooney is set to take on a fresh media role this season, joining forces with football content creator Mark Goldbridge to co-host a new programme focused entirely on Manchester United.
The show, titled Stick to United with Wayne Rooney, will air as part of The Overlap's expanding content network, founded by former United and England defender Gary Neville. Rooney already appears regularly as a pundit on the network's existing Stick to Football show, and this new venture marks an extension of his involvement with Neville's media project.
Goldbridge, whose real name is Brent di Cesare, built his reputation through his YouTube channels The United Stand and That's Football, which together attract more than 3.8 million subscribers. He has become known for his passionate and sometimes controversial commentary on football matters, with clips from his broadcasts frequently circulating widely online due to his animated reactions.
Neville brought Goldbridge's channels under The Overlap umbrella earlier this year, completing a deal reported to be worth a seven-figure sum, though the exact figure was not disclosed. This acquisition folded Goldbridge's established fanbase and content into Neville's broader sports media operation, which launched in 2021 and has since branched out beyond football into sports including cricket and rugby.
The newly announced show forms part of a wider distribution agreement between The Overlap and Disney+, under which the streaming platform will broadcast 50 episodes of Stick to United alongside 40 episodes of Stick to Football throughout the coming season.
Speaking about the collaboration, Neville explained that bringing Goldbridge into the fold and launching new programming was about growing the network's audience while staying true to its core values. "Expands our reach without compromising our identity," Neville said of the partnership.
This is not the first time Neville has weighed in publicly on fan-driven football media. He previously drew criticism toward Arsenal supporter channel ArsenalFanTV, calling it "embarrassing" after contributors on the platform heavily criticised then-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in the aftermath of a 3-1 loss to Chelsea back in 2017. Those remarks sparked a public back-and-forth between Neville and the channel on social media, which eventually led to Neville sitting down for an interview on ArsenalFanTV to further explain his position.
Despite his growing digital media commitments, Rooney's punditry work will continue on traditional broadcast television. The former England and United striker remains a fixture on Match of the Day, and his new United-focused show will also find a home on BBC platforms in addition to its Disney+ presence.
The move reflects a broader shift in football media, where traditional pundits and internet personalities increasingly find common ground. Neville's acquisition of Goldbridge's channels signals an effort to blend the reach and engagement of independent football content creators with the analytical credibility of former professional players like Rooney.
With the new season approaching, fans of Manchester United will now have access to dedicated coverage combining Rooney's insider perspective from his playing days at Old Trafford with Goldbridge's established rapport with online football audiences. The partnership represents another step in The Overlap's ambition to diversify its programming and strengthen its position in the competitive football media landscape.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.