Australians tight-lipped over Valletta move for Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt

Multiple reports that the Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt had been offered a two-year no-strings-attached deal with Abu-Dhabi owned Valletta FC, have not been officially confirmed by his current Australian team Mariners. 

The Mariners hierarchy have not been officially informed of any impending exit by Bolt’s London-based agent Ricky Simms, despite Valletta’s own declaration that a contract is in the offing. 

The Mariners have stayed officially tight-lipped, but one senior club source speaking to Australian sports website TheWorldGame described the Bolt exit talk as “totally wrong and without foundation”. 

“There has been no offer we are aware of and as far as the club is concerned Usain is continuing to train with us in the expectation of landing a contract,” the source added. “It’s mystifying to us and there’s no substance to it.” 

Valletta, who have boasted “UEFA Champions League aspirations” since being taken over by UAE group Sanban, were said to have offerred Bolt a two-year deal. 

Valletta FC are the reigning Maltese champions and are flush with cash after being recently taken over by Sanban. In an interview with ESPN, Valletta managing director and CEO Ghasston Slimen said the club hopes to sign the eight-time Olympic sprint champion in time for him to participate in their Maltese Super Cup match on December 13 against Balzan. 

Football agent Tony Rallis, instrumental in brokering the deal which brought Bolt to Gosford in August, was quoted as saying: “There is a club in Europe that has offered Bolt a two-year deal, they have been taken over by new owners who have aspirations of Champions League football.” 

The 32-year-old Jamaican has repeatedly expressed his hope to win a contract ahead of the Mariners’ 2018-19 A-League campaign which kicks off this weekend.