Usain Bolt receives 'two-year offer' from European club
Usain Bolt has received an unconditional and “formal two-year offer” from an unnamed club in southern Europe, News Corp reports.
The Jamaican sprinter has been on trial with the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners and scored his first goals for the club in a friendly on Friday night.
With footage of his second-half strikes going viral, it appears one club liked what they saw.
The 32-year-old Bolt is on an open-ended trial with the Mariners but all parties have flagged January as decision time.
With this European offer on the table, a call may now be out of Central Coast’s hands.
News Corp reports the club, a “top-flight frontrunner” in their country, would catapult Bolt into the side rather than sign him on a trial basis.
In contrast, the Mariners have sought financial assistance from the FFA to ink the Jamaican to a multimillion-dollar professional contract.
But while the A-League has recognised its need for more marquee players, it is believed Bolt wouldn’t come close to meeting the criteria.
Central Coast should not be spooked into signing Usain Bolt to a proper contract just because a club from Europe wants to. He is not ready. Simple as that. If someone else thinks he is, good luck to them. #aleague
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) October 15, 2018
Instead, A-League officials insist they could assist the Mariners by way of a marketing arrangement, as well as enabling third-party sponsorships.
Bolt also has a number of personal sponsorships that could count against him.
Bolt puzzled by doping test
Usain Bolt was stunned to learn he must take a drugs test despite having retired from athletics and waiting to learn if he will be given a professional contract in football.
The former sprinting star took to Instagram on Monday to show a testing notice he has received, apparently from the FFA.
“So guys, I’ve retired from track and field looking to become a footballer but look at this,” said Bolt, before showing the letter on the video.
“How am I going to get a drug test today? I’m not even a professional footballer yet. Seriously.
“So I asked the lady: ‘Why am I getting drug tested when I haven’t signed for a club yet?’ and she said they told her I’m an elite athlete so I have to get tested. Okay then.”
with agencies
