A RADCLIFFE schoolboy has appeared in a World Cup advert alongside former Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Oliver Hakes, aged 10, beat off competition from more than 100 youngsters to win a role in the Visa advert, which is one of a number the payment services company have filmed that will be shown during ad breaks in games.

The youngster, who lives in Mandon Close, has only been attending acting classes for six months and the audition for the role was the first he has attended.

The advert, which is set in what appears to be an Alpine town, but was actually filmed in Stretford, sees Ibrahimovic enter a shop and order a pastry, much to the surprise of the employee serving him and other customers, including Oliver.

After paying with his Visa card, the enigmatic Swede then throws his purchase to an onlooker stood behind him before walking away.

Of his son’s part in the advert, Oliver’s dad, Adrian, said: “He has not got a big part, but he is there standing behind Zlatan with a few other people.

“You can clearly see him, he has a blue shirt and glasses on. Then you can see him again when Zlatan walks off.

“It was a big operation. There must have been about 70 crew members there. Zlatan arrived in a blacked out car, did his part and then disappeared again.

“Oliver managed to high five him and had a little chat. He is a United supporter so it was massive for him. He wasn’t fazed at all, he is a very confident little lad.

“All in all, it was a pretty good day out for us.”

The youngster, who is a pupil at Wesley Methodist Church Primary School, has only been attending drama classes at the St Philips Community Centre in Higher Dean Street, Radcliffe, for the past six months.

Mr Hakes added: “It was his first audition and he was up against about 100 kids for four places.

“Thankfully, he was fortunate enough to get one of them.

“When she said there was an audition I didn’t think he would get the part so we could not believe it when we found out he had. I’m really proud of him.”

The advert has even been shared by Ibrahimovic’s own Twitter account and has amassed almost 200,000 views.

Oliver is not the only member of his family who will be following the World Cup closely, with 20-year-old brother Louis set to head out to watch England play Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday.

With the advert reportedly being shown in the airport at each of the host cities, it is possible that his brother’s face will be one of the first faces he sees upon alighting his flight in Moscow.