CHERRIES midfielder Emiliano Marcondes explained his side project alongside football, which looks to help players away from the pitch.

The 28-year-old has returned to the club following a loan spell at FC Nordsjaelland, battling back from a foot injury aggravated towards the end of last season, which saw him undergo surgery.

He has used his spell away from playing to put some more time into his separate venture, Visionary.

Marcondes helped found the multinational brand in 2022, designed to try and help professional athletes think more about their lives outside of competition.

Explaining the project, Marcondes told the Daily Echo: “With Visionary it is about growing the player outside the pitch.

“We want to build something called Visionary Travels as well and Visionary Athletes, where we want to build that identity outside the pitch and make footballers aware that life is bigger than just being a football player.

“That can help players both on the pitch and also outside the pitch, when you are injured, when you are not playing, the coach is putting you on the bench, or who are you when you stop your career.”

He added: “We have created a workshop in Visionary so you go through that and have some mentors with you on the way that can help you learn something about yourself and help you explore other passions outside football.

“And also start to brand yourself better, through social media but also how you present yourself to different people. That’s something we want to do with Visionary.”

Marcondes is no stranger to projects outside of being a professional footballer.

The Dane recently helped raise nearly £15,000 for the El Cambio Academy in Uganda with his ShirtsForChange campaign, auctioning off match-worn jerseys he had collected from fellow players.

He also works with Right To Dream Academy, which helps children in Ghana.

Marcondes has made 24 appearances for Cherries, scoring seven goals and helping them gain promotion from the Championship, since joining on a free transfer from Brentford in the summer of 2021.