Usain Bolt won't be able to achieve his lifelong dream of playing for Manchester United after he sustained an hamstring injury in his farewell race.
United Legends take on their Barcelona counterparts at Old Trafford on 2 September in a charity match, raising money for the Manchester United Foundation and its work in the local community.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Denis Irwin and Dwight Yorke are among those signed up for the Bryan Robson-managed side, who had hoped to be able to call upon the services of the fastest man in history.
Bolt has dreamed of playing at Old Trafford and was finally set to get that chance if he was able to overcome the hamstring injury sustained at the World Athletics Championships in his final race.
However, the retired sprinter will not be able to line up for the Legends following a scan on the injury sustained in Saturday’s 4x100 metres relay.
Usain Bolt injured his hamstring in the 4x100 metres relay final and will not play at Old Trafford on 2 September. Photograph: Garcia/BPI/REX/Shutterstock
Bolt has long been keen to play for United Legends, whose previous matches against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich raised more than £1.8m for the Manchester United Foundation.
“Sadly I have tear of the proximal myotendinous junction of biceps femoris in my left hamstring with partial retraction. 3 months rehab,” he tweeted, before removing the post.
Bolt had also refuted any suggestion he had not truly been injured at the world championships.
He added: “I don’t usually release my medical report to the public but sadly I have sat and listened to people questioning if I was really injured. I have never been one to cheat my fans in anyway & my entire desire at the championship was run one last time for my fans.
“Thanks for the continued support my fans and I rest, heal and move onto the next chapter of my life Love&LoveAlone.”
Competitions have previously got in the way of Bolt making an appearance for United teams in such exhibition matches, but there is scope for the Jamaican to be involved at another point. Bolt’s love of football is well known, as is his fondness for United.
The Jamaican sprint great has been to Old Trafford on several occasions and last December went as far as to call into MUTV’s phone-in show to praise José Mourinho’s men.
Bolt has been “hell bent on playing for Manchester United” since his first visit in 2009 and has spoken with no little self-belief of his ability as a footballer.
“In my mind, I think I should do a trial and see if they would say, ‘All right, come on’ or if they would say, ‘No, you are not good’,” he told MUTV.
“I think I would be pretty good because I am fit, I am quick, I can control the ball and I understand all of the play.
“So, I think if I do a trial then they would say, ‘You know what, here is a contract for five years!’.
“You are 30 years old, here’s a five-year contract. Let’s just do it!”
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