Bolt for charity match at Old Trafford

Usain Bolt, the 100-metre world record holder and multiple Olympic and World champion sprinter, has signed up to play in a charity football match at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.

Bolt, 31, retired from athletics in August 2017 having won eight Olympic gold medals and been crowned world champion 11 times.

But on Sunday he tweeted to say “I’ve signed for a football team! Find out which one this Tuesday at 8am GMT.”

The Jamaican, who is a huge Manchester United fan, has always insisted he had “a chance” of becoming a Premier League footballer and had undertaken trials with German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and South African team Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I watch a lot of football, I understand it, I play it,” he said last year. “With training, I could be good. Me and [Paul] Pogba talk a lot. 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.

“I strive to be the best and if I get a chance to play for a team like Manchester United it will be a massive deal.”

Bolt will captain the World XI which will take on Robbie Williams’ England side although no other players have been confirmed yet.

He said: “It is my dream to make it as a professional footballer, so to be able to step out onto the pitch at Old Trafford in June, and play against some of football’s biggest legends is going to be remarkable.

“I enjoy the thrill of competition in front of a crowd, so Robbie and his England team better watch out as I won’t be going easy on them!

“I’ve got a pretty special celebration planned for when I score, by the way.”