Ronaldo scores advertising transfer with placement at world’s top agency

By HOLLY WILLIAMS
Published on 08/01/2013 20:34

FORMER Brazilian footballer Ronaldo has secured his latest transfer with a move to London to study advertising under the wing of WPP supremo Sir Martin Sorrell.

WPP confirmed the World Cup winner is to take a job placement at the group – the world’s biggest advertising and communications firm – and will work closely with chief executive Sorrell to learn the tricks of the trade.

The pair have already worked together, with Ronaldo running sports marketing agency 9ine in Brazil for the past two years, which is a collaboration between the football hero and WPP. He has also been helping the group on the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, which will be hosted by Brazil in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

Ronaldo, 36, told Brazilian newspaper Meio e Mensagem: “Learning from Martin Sorrell will be perfect. I won’t leave him alone. I’ll be asking him questions the whole day, just like a striker. He’s going to have to tell me everything.”

Ronaldo – or Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima – retired from football in 2011 after a career that saw him play for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan.

He won the World Cup in 2002, scoring two goals in the final, and was also named Fifa world player of the year three times.

It is believed his placement with WPP will last for at least two years, during which time he is reportedly expected to spend up to five months in the UK. He set up his agency 9ine - named after his shirt number - in Sao Paulo with a mission to exploit opportunities in Brazil.