Ronaldo scores work experience at ad group

BRAZIL'S Ronaldo believes shadowing one of Britain's most successful media entrepreneurs is more valuable than a business degree.

FORGET Harvard. After an 18-year professional football career, including four World Cups, Ronaldo believes shadowing one of Britain's most successful media entrepreneurs is more valuable than a business degree.

The Brazilian, 36, could be sunning himself on Copacabana beach, but instead has gone to colder London for a two-year placement at advertising group WPP under the guidance of chief executive Martin Sorrell.

Following his retirement from football in 2011, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, one of the greatest strikers of all time, will now do the most mundane of chores. Making tea, photocopying, carrying Sir Martin's bag. He said he would do it all to learn from "the master" in order to make it as a businessman after spending his youth kicking a ball on the streets of Rio when he should have been at school. "I think I will learn more from this experience in London with my master than if I went to any university," he said.

Two months into his internship, he has set up home in Chelsea with girlfriend Paula Morais.

"This is his business degree," Sir Martin said. "Apart from being a great footballer, he has a really intelligent approach to what we do. I think he will be as successful off the football field as on it."