Usain Bolt Gets Advice from Paul Pogba in Bid to Play 'Top League' Football

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has stepped up his efforts to enter the football world, revealing he regularly seeks advice from Manchester United's Paul Pogba and still hopes to play for his favourite club one day, per Alex Smith and Andrew Gilpin for the Mirror. 

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since retiring from athletics in August 2017, but he is set to begin a trial at Borussia Dortmund this week, proving he is serious about playing for a big football club. Dortmund and Bolt share the same sponsor, Puma.

"Me and [Paul] Pogba talk a lot," Bolt said after featuring in the Hublot Match of Friendship, a five-a-side charity match, on Wednesday. "I watch and ask him a lot of questions. I want to play, but it has to be in the top league. I'm not content to be average."

Bolt's friendship with Pogba is well known. Following his retirement from athletics Bolt said he wanted to celebrate with the France international in England, sharing a Nando's and a Guinness with him, per Ed Gleave for the Daily Star.

But it isn't Pogba who needs to be convinced of Bolt's value. Luckily for the Jamaican, Jose Mourinho was the manager of the 31-year-old's team at the charity event, and unsurprisingly there was dialogue between the two regarding Bolt's long-term dream of playing for Manchester United. Mourinho was full of praise for his footballing ability.

"When I listen to him speaking about football, I thought it was more a funny thing," Mourinho told reporters. "A kid's desire, a kid's dream, but I think not at all. Maybe football lost a talent to athletics."

These words will have been music to Bolt's ears, whose trial with Dortmund could be the starting point of a new sporting chapter for the 100m world-record holder. 

"I just said I would love to play for the team, so give it some thought and see where it goes," Bolt said of speaking with Mourinho. "After the trials I can tell him: 'listen, I can do this and do that.' So let's see what happens."

Bolt was due to play in a Manchester United Legends' game in September 2017 but had to withdraw through injury, and since then he has been put through his paces at South African side Mamelodi Sundowns while on tour with his sponsor Puma. Bolt's appearance in a five-a-side charity match has put his football ambitions back in the spotlight.

"I think I've done everything I can do in athletics," he added. "That's why I want to move on to football, because it would be a new challenge."

We will know more about Bolt's potential after he completes his trial with Dortmund, but he is at least making the right noises about pursuing a top-level career in football.