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Jamaican sprinter and world-record holder Usain Bolt may be an ardent Manchester United supporter but he has admitted he urged Mario Balotelli back to the Premier League, despite the striker ending up with rival club Liverpool. Bolt, 28, spoke with ESPN FC TV's Shaka Hislop at a promotional event for his sponsor Puma in New York City, where he revealed that he advised the former Manchester City forward that leaving AC Milan for a return to the UK was in his best interests. "We're talking, and I tell him England is the best place to be," the Jamaican said of his conversation with the Italy international, who moved to Anfield in a 16 million-pound move last month. "I talk to him and I said listen, when you play against Man United, just make a few mistakes. We'll be alright." The reigning Olympic and world champion and world-record holder over 100 and 200 metres also spoke to Hislop about his expectations for United this season, Real Madrid's chances of defending their Champions League title, the chances of Caribbean nations like Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica reaching another World Cup and new United signing Radamel Falcao. Even though his beloved United are off to a slow start in their Premier League campaign, Bolt had the fullest confidence in manager Louis van Gaal. "I think he means business," Bolt said. "I think personally it's going to be hard with the new system that he has, but I think over time it will get better. As long as we have our strong back three." Bolt was also bullish on the arrival of Falcao, calling him a great addition to the squad and someone who can help United get back in the mix with top teams in the world. The bar for United, according to Bolt, is a return to the Premier League's top four and a shot at next season's foremost European club competition. "Even if we don't win [the Premier League], if we get in the Champions League next season when everybody's gelled, we have a better chance to win." - Shaka's Power Rankings: Chelsea start on top
- Toe Poke: Balotelli mansion has helipad Bolt said of current Champions League winners Real Madrid that it will take time for the new players -- like James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Javier Hernandez -- to settle. "They just need time to get together," he said. "When you're coming from a different team and you're the top dog and everybody passes the ball to you, it's kind of weird to come to a side where the ball has to be shared all around the park. So in the meantime the team will get better." On Madrid's chances of becoming the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, he added: "I don't think so. To tell you the truth since, no one has ever done it, they have to work hard to get there, so we'll see how the season works out." Hislop, a retired star of the Trinidad &Tobago national team, asked Bolt what it would take to get sides from the football-crazed Caribbean regularly qualifying for the World Cup finals again. "For me, I think it's just timing," he said. "People have to dedicate a lot more time to younger stars. I think they need to put in a youth program and bring up more stars. "They always try to use the older guys but they need to use the younger guys so the teams will get better over the years." For more from Shaka Hislop and Usain Bolt, tune into ESPN FC TV on Friday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNews and WatchESPN.
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