Faster than Bolt
Fellow Jamaican Bailey out to dazzle Bayern as Bundesliga resumes
BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen forward Leon Bailey plans to prove against Bayern Munich that the Jamaican winger is even quicker with the ball at his feet than close friend Usain Bolt as the Bundesliga returns from its winter break this weekend.
Fourth-placed Leverkusen reopen proceedings today with a mouth-watering clash at home to runaway league leaders Bayern, who have an 11-point lead over nearest rival Schalke.
Pacy Kingston-born winger Bailey is friends with Jamaica sprint legend Bolt, who last weekend revealed that he wants to launch his football career with a trial at Borussia Dortmund in March.
Bolt, 31, bowed out of athletics last year as the 100m and 200m world record holder over 100m and 200m, but Bailey jokes that he is faster of the pair on the pitch.
“I’ve been friends with Usain for four years now, we play football and hang out sometimes, he’s a good person,” 20-year-old Bailey told Bundesliga.com after posting a picture of himself alongside Bolt last month.
“Obviously, I am much faster on the football pitch with the ball, but on the track, he’s the fastest for sure.”
Bailey, 20, has reportedly attracted the attention of Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea after eye-catching displays in Germany’s top flight.
“Basically, England was and still is my dream,” Bailey told Germany daily Bild.
“I have a dream club, but I won’t say who and if I keep working hard, I’m sure it will work someday.”
A 14-match unbeaten run has allowed Leverkusen to climb the league table, and with Bailey in red-hot form they are bidding to become only the third club after Hoffenheim and Borussia Moenchengladbach to beat Bayern in the German league this season.
Bailey has scored six goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances and has played a big part in Leverkusen’s rise this season.
His clash at Leverkusen’s BayArena with Bayern rightback Joshua Kimmich is set to be an interesting sideshow providing Germany defender Kimmich shakes off a cold.
With his pace, Bailey is a menace down the wing, providing four assists to add to those six league goals, which include two strikes in the thrilling 4-4 draw at Hanover 96 just before the winter break.
He proved his temperament on the big stage with goals against Schalke, Moenchengladbach and Cologne in the space of four league games last September and October.
Bailey struggled to cope with the occasion when Leverkusen lost 3-1 at Bayern’s Allianz Arena in August.