Everyone who’s been following Usain Bolt over the years and not just his performances on the track knows that he has quite a lot of love for the game of football. From time to time he likes to speak about it, like a day after his win in the 100 meters finals, saying that he wouldn’t mind trying out and playing for Manchester United.
I’ve always wondered about what would it look like if the fastest men on earth took their talents to different sports. In fact, the Americans have quite a few talented track athletes playing in the NFL. Bolt’s no NFL player, but after big success of his comes the tour of fame, which also includes what might be his biggest passion, football. If it’s PES, which he has talked about his love and semi-addiction to, or simply playing the game, which Bolt isn’t too bad at as well.
Now, maybe after all the rush from his fourth gold medal has settles, or maybe because of it, Bolt wants more than just a friendly-like training session with Manchester United or Real Madrid. It seems, if he’s to be taken seriously, he would like a trial with United.
People think I am joking, but if Alex Ferguson called me up and said, ‘OK let’s do this, come and have a trial’, it would be impossible for me to say no. I would not take up the challenge if I didn’t think I was good enough. I am a very accomplished player and know I could make a difference.
I would be the fastest player in the team – but I can play as well. I am in Britain for a few more days. If Alex Ferguson wants to give me a call he knows where I am.
Regardless of how good he really is, it might make for a wonderful gimmick. It might mean Bolt is losing interest in his running career or at least put it on hiatus, but the man makes about $20 million from sponsors a year. He can afford to try and proffesionalize his hobbies. For Manchester United? They might not get the player of their dreams, but financially it might be one of the more lucrative deals out there. If Bolt is serious, Ferguson should call him up. There’s nothing wrong with taking things a little less seriously sometimes.
Usain Bolt is an international phenomenon. How would it hurt to give him a chance to show he can play for a club like Manchester United, and later actually let him wear the jersey once in a while for a few minutes? Even if there aren’t too much goals to be had from such a partnership, there’s plenty of money to be made.