Olympics superstar Usain Bolt now supports Aston Villa and Man Utd, claims Bailey

James Shearman

• Updated: 4 Aug 2021 18:00 BST
• 3 min read

Olympics legend Usain Bolt will support Aston Villa as well as Manchester United this season, according to new signing Leon Bailey.

Bailey has been announced today as Villa's latest addition, in a $36million move from Bayer Leverkusen, as one of several replacements for outgoing talisman Jack Grealish.

The Jamaican has been brought in to help the club into a continental qualification place in the upcoming Premier League season, and claims to have compatriot Usain Bolt eager to support him throughout the campaign.

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The eight-time Olympic gold medallist is known to be a huge fan of Manchester United, but now has a second English team to root for after Bailey's move.

“Anywhere I go he (Bolt) is going to be a fan so of course right now, he is a Villa fan," the winger told VillaTV.

"I don’t need to make him, he automatically becomes a fan of the club.

“I have known him for a long time. He is a good friend of mine and an inspiration. I am sure he will want to come and see Villa against Manchester United.”

Bailey to Villa

Bailey earned a reputation as the one of most exciting players in the Bundesliga in his time at Leverkusen, which amounted to four years.

He registered 39 goals and 26 assists in 156 appearances for the German outfit, and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, who scored the winning goal in Chelsea's Champions League triumph in May.

Villa fans will be hopeful that the 23-year-old, alongside fellow new signing Emi Buendia, can help to fill the huge void left by Grealish's upcoming departure to Manchester City.

“For me, it’s a great club with a big history and it’s the right step for me. I’m excited to get started,” he added. "It’s always been somewhere that I’ve wanted to play. I feel like now is the right time and I’m excited about it.

“Hopefully I can do what I do best and have a great season in the Premier League.”

The Jamaican star is in contention to make his first appearance in a Villa shirt in their opening Premier League match against Watford on August 14.