Usain Bolt reportedly leaving Central Coast Mariners

The world’s fastest man is reportedly leaving the Central Coast Mariners to take up a contract with an unnamed club in Europe.

Usain Bolt of the Mariners celebrates scoring his first goal during the pre-season friendly match against Macarthur South West United. Picture: Getty Images

The Usain Bolt A-League experiment could be over with the world’s fastest man reportedly the subject of an unconditional offer to join a club in Europe.

Australian player agent Tony Rallis, who brokered the deal to bring the eight-times Olympic gold medallist to the Central Coast Mariners for trials, confirmed to The Australian that an offer is on the table.

However, Rallis would not divulge any more information, except to say that the A-League would lose one of its best marketing and promotion tools if Bolt decided to leave.

The Australian understands the offer is a two-years-plus-one deal and carries no conditions. He does not have to trial and would go straight into the team for his first fully fledged professional match if he accepted the deal.

It is understood the club is owned by a group of wealthy Arabs and plays in one of the lesser European leagues which does not have automatic qualification to the Champions League.

The owners have huge ambitions and are looking to win the title and earn the right to play in the Champions League qualifiers.

The European club interest was sparked after Bolt, who arrived in August to chase his dream of becoming a professional footballer, scored two goals for the Mariners in a trial match against a South Western Sydney select last Friday. It was just his third game for the club and his first starting appearance — he had played 20 minutes and 45 minutes as a substitute in two previous trials. Central Coast tweeted out video of the goals and it reached a staggering six million views. It is believed the Europeans approached Bolt’s management the following day.

News of the Bolt development broke via the Twitter handle of community radio program Soccer Stoppage Time.

They posted: “The delay in providing marketing and marquee funding assistance by Football Federation Australia will result in the Jamaican and world superstar pursing his football journey away from the A-League.”

While delighted with the publicity Bolt has brought to the Mariners and the A-League, FFA have been reluctant to dip into their marquee fund to help assist in signing him.

FFA chief executive David Gallop confirmed yesterday he was committed to “true marquee players” who are proven around the world like Keisuke Honda, who will play with Melbourne Victory and Sam Kerr, who will play for Perth Glory in the W-League.

Earlier in the day a disgruntled Bolt put out a post on his Instagram account hitting out after he was ordered to take a drug test.

“So guys, I’ve retired from track and field looking to become a footballer but look at this,” he posted as he posed with an official pink slip. “How am I going to get a drug test today? I’m not even a professional footballer yet.

“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.”

The slip shows that the “testing authority” did not come from ASADA but from FFA.