Sydney: Australia’s Central Coast Mariners have offered sprint superstar Usain Bolt a contract, reports said Monday, but the club’s coach Mike Mulvey denied knowing anything about it.
The eight-time Olympic champion has been on trial with the A-League side since arriving in August to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Bolt also turned down Thursday a two-year trail free deal from deal from cashed-up Maltese champions Valletta.
“I can confirm Usain has been offered a contract by Central Coast Mariners,” the Jamaican’s agent Ricky Simms told the BBC. However, though the club was unavailable for comment Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that he had been offered only a fraction of the Aus$3 million (USD2.1 million).
The newspaper said the potential deal put together in May – on the premise of Bolt passing a trial first – was based on Football Federation Australia contributing Aus dollar 750,000 and other sponsors also topping it up.
The 100m world-record holder, who retired from athletics last year, has previously tried out with clubs in Germany, South Africa and Norway. The 32-year-old’s form so far has been criticised by several pundits, but his two goals in a pre-season win captured the imagination of the sporting public.