Only a few years ago, the idea of a Real Madrid midfielder hosting a television show would have seemed absurd. That boundary between football and the media has since all but disappeared. So it is hardly surprising that Aurélien Tchouaméni should host The Bridge, the talk show Disney+ has now acquired. As L’Équipe reports, new episodes will be available exclusively on Disney+ for a week before being released free on YouTube, where the programme has been available until now. The deal with ESN, the agency that produces the show and represents several footballers, was confirmed by its head, Jonathan Kebe, during Africa Day 2026 at Sciences Po in Paris.
Launched in 2024, The Bridge is hosted by Tchouaméni alongside Sandy Héribert. The two bring together guests from across sport, music, entertainment and culture. Previous guests include Kylian Mbappé, Paul Pogba, former Juventus defender and current sporting executive Medhi Benatia, singer Soprano, actor and comedian Malik Bentalha, and singer Aya Nakamura. The appeal lies in hearing familiar names speak outside the usual settings of their work. Tchouaméni, meanwhile, is a natural fit for the role, having reached the highest level with both Real Madrid and the French national team.
For Disney+, the deal is part of a wider push into sports content and original programming that can draw viewers beyond those who follow live matches. The partnership also brings the platform together with an agency representing several leading footballers, including Mike Maignan, Jules Koundé and Manu Koné. The trend extends beyond France. In the UK, Disney+ has spent several million pounds to acquire the rights to The Overlap, which includes Stick to Football, the podcast hosted by former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, and Stick to United, featuring Wayne Rooney. Netflix has made a similar move with Rest Is Football, the video podcast featuring Gary Lineker. Streaming platforms are looking beyond live sport to the people who shape its conversation, and increasingly, those people are making the programmes themselves.