It has now been revealed that athletics legend Usain Bolt was offered a football contract by an overseas club after taking part in training with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Famous for his unparalleled career as a sprinter, Bolt made headlines in South Africa back in 2018 when he joined a training session at Chloorkop with the Downs' first team, managed by Pitso Mosimane at the time.
The Olympic champion confirmed at the time that he was also set for trials with German giants Borussia Dortmund after spending time with Masandawana, where Mosimane advised him that he needed more training.
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"Sundowns were pretty good," Bolt said, according to Sundowns' official website. "It was a good experience. I don't know how quick I am with the ball, but if I kick and run, I can get there. It was a good game. It was a fun day and they were welcoming.
"It's just that the coach (Pitso Mosimane) told me that when I go back to Jamaica, I need some training. I am very unfit, very, very unfit. I am going to try and get fit for the trials with Borussia Dortmund (in March). Training with Sundowns showed me that I am unfit for that."
After his two-day trial at Dortmund, Bolt underwent an eight-week trial with Australian top-flight team Central Coast Mariners, who later offered him a professional football contract.
His teammate at Mariners, Ross McCormack, who also played for the likes of Leeds United and Aston Villa, has now revealed that Bolt would have formally joined the Australian outfit, but his contract demands caused the deal to fall through.
"They wanted to sign him because they could have gotten a certain amount back through shirt sales," the former Scotland striker McCormack told Open Goal Sport.
"But the salary cap in the league was AUS$3.6 million (R41.8 million) when I was at Melbourne City the year before. Then it got slashed to AUS$1.8 million (R20 million). He asked for AUS$3 million (R34.8 million) a year."
Bolt eventually ended his brief ambition of becoming a footballer in 2019, stating: "You live and you learn. It was a good experience – I really enjoyed just being in a team. I'm now moving into different businesses."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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