Xavi accepted on course at world renowned Harvard University
Xavi Simons has revealed he has been accepted on, and has begun his studies for, a business course at the prestigious Harvard Business School.
As he continues his rehabilitation from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained back in April, Xavi has decided to put the spare time he has around his recovery schedule to brush up on business knowledge.
While focussed on getting back to the pitch as soon as possible, the Dutchman has always been keen to learn and improve in all aspects. Now, with a long-held interest in business, the Dutchman will take part in the Crossover into Business program at Harvard.
A semester-long online course designed specifically for athletes looking to develop their business skills, it will give him the chance to learn more about business alongside MBA (Master of Business Administration) students.
The forward recently travelled to the USA to continue his rehabilitation programme. While there, he met a number of athletes from across America's national sports while he also surprised members of our Official Supporters Club Boston Spurs when in the Massachusetts state capital.
On his official LinkedIn page, Xavi said: "I’m going back to school."
"During my recovery, I’ve been trying to use my time in the best way possible. Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch. I’m happy to share that I’ve been accepted onto the Crossover Into Business Program at Harvard Business School. It’s an online program where professional athletes learn more about business alongside HBS MBA students.
"I’ve always been interested in more than just football. I want to understand the business side of the game better, learn from people in different industries and keep developing as a person.
"Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent time on both the East Coast and West Coast in the U.S., meeting new people and seeing different ways of working. It’s given me a lot of new ideas. It also makes this experience extra special because of Professor Anita Elberse. We first met during my time at FC Barcelona, and later again at Paris Saint-Germain. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, so it was great to see her again and visit Harvard while I was in Boston.
"Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority. At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started."
Wishing you all the best, Xavi!