However, in addition to the game, the occasion was also notable for Ferdinand celebrating his 45th birthday.

And as such, the Etihad saw fit to present the United star with his very own birthday kick – but with a mean twist from the Treble winners.

Rio Ferdinand was presented with a birthday cake in Manchester City sky blue on Tuesday

The former United star’s colleagues Laura Woods (left) and Joleon Lescott (right) took evident pleasure in the hilarious gag

Ferdinand was on punditry duties for the Champions League clash between City and Young Boys

‘I actually think that’s disrespectful. Who’s that from, is it Man City?’ said Ferdinand, when handed the blue cake, complete with a cut out of the defender holding the Premier League trophy, as well as several Man City badges.

But host Laura Woods and his co-pundit Joleon Lescott were clearly enjoying twisting the knife in, and teased their colleague over the tongue-in-cheek slight.

‘It’s lovely actually, there’s even a mini you on it. It’s from the kitchen here at the Etihad. Try a bit!’ said Woods as she began to tuck into the cake.

But Ferdinand was not having any of it, as he refused and even threatened to push the cake from the table to the ground: ‘Thank you very much, but it’s the wrong colour! It’s the wrong colour, isn’t it? Can I push it off, shall I let it fall over?’

However, Ferdinand was not the only one celebrating a big day, as fellow TNT host Jules Breach was also marking her birthday on Champions League night.

As such, she too was given a cake – minus the thinly-veiled jab – which was presented to her by Scottish football legend Ally McCoist, with a picture of her very own dog on top for decoration.

‘I was going to get candles on it but I was advised against it by the Manchester fire service,’ he said as he hugged his colleague under an umbrella in the Manchester deluge.

‘What more could I want for my birthday than standing in the rain with Ally McCoist and my dog on a cake?’ Breach replied. ‘Was this one made by the Man City kitchen, it doesn’t look as fancy as Rio’s?’

Jules Breach (left) was also handed a birthday cake by Ally McCoist as she celebrated her special day

Breach’s cake included a picture of her dog and was bright red – much to Ferdinand’s chagrin

Erling Haaland starred for the hosts on the night as they saw off Young Boys with a 3-0 victory

To which McCoist replied: ‘I got up early this morning and I rustled it up!’

But Ferdinand had clearly not let go of the slight against his former team, but Woods hinted that there may have been some foul play from his TNT colleagues at hand in the gag.

‘I do appreciate the hospitality here, but how come my cake was not red, and Jules’ was?’ he asked.

‘You got the blue one because we thought it would be funnier, but there we are,’ revealed Woods at last.