Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled on a course at prestigious American college Harvard whereas he continues his restoration from a long-term knee damage.
The 23-year-old Netherlands playmaker has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April – an damage that pressured him to overlook the World Cup.
Simons has now joined, exterior Harvard’s Crossover into Enterprise programme, a course tailor-made for skilled athletes to develop their industrial expertise.
The net course pairs athletes with Harvard MBA college students to mentor them via sensible case research and enterprise administration.
“I am going again to high school,” Simons wrote on LinkedIn.
“Throughout my restoration, I have been making an attempt to make use of my time in one of the best ways potential. Soccer remains to be my major focus, however I additionally wish to continue learning and enhancing away from the pitch.
“I’ve all the time been thinking about extra than simply soccer. I wish to perceive the enterprise aspect of the sport higher, be taught from individuals in several industries and preserve creating as an individual.”
Simons lately travelled to america to step up his bodily rehabilitation whereas visiting Harvard’s campus in Boston.
“Getting again on the pitch remains to be my primary precedence,” Simons added.
“On the identical time, I wish to use this era to continue learning and spend money on myself past soccer. Trying ahead to getting began.”
Earlier members on the Crossover into Enterprise programme have included gamers from the NBA, NFL, and tennis, together with former world primary and two-time main champion Victoria Azarenka.
In June, Actual Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga took a brief course at Harvard within the ‘enterprise of leisure, media and sports activities’ after being not noted of France’s World Cup squad.
In 2014 following his retirement, former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took up a “long-term educating place” on the college.