What an intriguing thought – the fast man on the planet playing for the world’s most famous football team.

“People think I am joking when I say that I would like to play for Manchester United,” double double Olympic champion Usain told the British media on Tuesday.

“But if Alex Ferguson called me up and said, ‘OK, let’s do this, come and have a trial and see if you are good enough’ it would be impossible for me to say ‘no’.

“I would not take up the challenge if I didn’t think I was good enough. I am a very accomplished player and know I could make a difference. I would be the fastest player in the team — but I can play as well.”

It was a story that gathered momentum when former England skipper Rio Ferdinand fired back on Twitter:”@usainbolt if you want that trial at Man Utd shout me, I’ll speak to the boss!!”

“If Alex Ferguson wants to give me a call he knows where I am,” the Jamaican has been quoted as saying.

Sadly, of course, there is absolutely zero chance of the Lightning Bolt giving up the track for the Premier League. Much shorter are the odds on Bolt taking up the long jump. And that of course could spell bad news for Team GB’s gold medal winner Greg Rutherford.   After successfully defending both the 100 and 200 metres Olympic titles he won in Beijing at London 2012, Bold – who will be 30 on the day of the closing ceremony at the next Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 – is considering bis options.

Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, has suggested Bolt should stick to his day job, telling the Manchester United website: “He’d obviously add a bit of speed to the team! But they are different sports. I think he’s best staying on the track!”

– BY JOHN GUBBA