Rio in derby day dash to Wembley to captain Glazers’ NFL team Tampa Bay

Rio Ferdinand will make an incredible helicopter dash to Wembley on Sunday to captain NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers - just three hours after the Manchester derby.

United owner Malcolm Glazer controls a majority stake in the Buccaneers and is laying on a private charter for the England defender from Old Trafford immediately after the final whistle against Manchester City.

Wembley way: Rio Ferdinand will make a mad dash after the Manchester derby to captain the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Ferdinand, who revealed on social networking site Twitter that he will be at the national stadium, will then be paraded on the pitch as Tampa Bay's honourary captain for the ceremonial coin toss before kick-off at 6pm.

NFL fan Ferdinand revealed: 'After the derby (going for the win) on Sunday, I’m going to Wembley to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Chicago Bears... love me some NFL.'

Cheer we go: Preparations for Sunday's game are well underway with the Tampa Bay cheerleaders promoting the match in the capital

However it is not known whether the Glazer family will accompany Ferdinand to Wembley after Sunday's lunchtime derby.

An NFL spokesman told The Mirror: ‘We cannot reveal the travel plans of franchise owners.’