Usain Bolt’s football future: will he pursue dream or call it quits?
Jamaican icon has support from Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling
Usain Bolt has revealed that he will make a decision on his professional football ambitions by the end of November.
The Jamaican sprint legend, 32, was recently on trial at Australian club Central Coast Mariners but rejected an offer to join the A-League outfit.
ESPN reports that the eight-time Olympic gold medal winner has set himself a two-week deadline on whether he will pursue his football dream or decide to call it quits.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking to Omnisport, Bolt said: “I’ve got a lot of offers from a lot of other clubs out there. We’ll make a decision before the end of November if I’m going to go to another club or call it actually quits.”
Prem stars support Bolt
While Bolt dreams of playing professionally his footballing ability has received criticism. Last month former Republic of Ireland international Andy Keogh said the Jamaican’s first touch was “like a trampoline”.
Hitting back at Keogh’s comments Bolt says he has received support from a number of global stars, including Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling.
“People are going to say what they want, I’m used to this,” Bolt told Sky Sports. “I used to do track and field, people used to think badly of me when I started and I proved them wrong every year.
“Football is something that I want. I’m sure he [Keogh] is not at the level he was when he started, you know what I mean? I don’t take it personally, I just laugh at these things.
“I’ve talked to Pogba and Sterling and they are happy to see me trying, they say ‘come on, you can do it’.
“They support me, so I’m not going to worry about some simple players saying some things about me because I have high-level players knowing this is a dream and what I want to do.
“This is not about all about the money. This is a dream, and I want to try and see how good I can be.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Paris Olympics: will it be a success?
Today's Big Question Organisers hope the 'spectacle' of the 2024 Games will lift the cloud of negativity that has hung over the build-up
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published