HECTOR Bellerin wants to race Usain Bolt, Radamel Falcao trolls Tottenham fans at Wembley, Melbourne Victory react to Michael Essien rumours, Sergio Aguero’s new contract, and more in Paper Talk.

BELLERIN STILL WANTS TO RACE BOLT

There wouldn’t be too many people on earth who would fancy their chances in a footrace against multiple Olympic gold medal winner Usain Bolt, but don’t count Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin among them.

Known for his speed, Bellerin broke Theo Walcott’s 40m club sprint record in 2015, and now the defender has called out the world’s fastest man.

Asked about a potential race between himself and Bolt, Bellerin said: “It’s not me you have to ask, I’ve been waiting for that phone call from Jamaica.

“I challenged him a while ago and he said maybe after Rio. So I’m just waiting now, need to push him.”

Bolt has recently been enjoying some well-earned party time following his exploits at the 2016 Olympics, where he won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m to complete his ‘triple-triple’ of Olympic titles.

FALCAO TROLLS SPURS FANS AT WEMBLEY

Former Manchester United and Chelsea loanee Radamel Falcao made a return to England this week, featuring for Monaco in their 2-1 win over Tottenham at Wembley in the Champions League.

Although the Colombian still looks short of a yard of pace, the win must have been satisfying for the striker after two poor seasons in the Premier League with the Red Devils and Blues.

After the game, there was a fantastic moment of banter between Falcao and some Tottenham fans. As the players left the pitch, fans surrounding the tunnel started chanting “Chelsea reject” at Falcao, reminding him of his failed season at Stamford Bridge.

The striker’s response was swift. He simply held up both hands - one signalled two (for Monaco) and the other one (for Tottenham).

DID VICTORY JUST CONFIRM ESSIEN?

Rumours continue to swirl that A-League club Melbourne Victory are on the verge of securing former Ghana international Michael Essien as a marquee player for the upcoming season.

Essien, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, is currently a free agent after leaving Greek club Panathinaikos at the end of last season after a handful of injury-plagued years in Greece and with Italian side AC Milan.

But, the midfielder has been keeping in shape over the off season, with former Chelsea teammate John Terry confirming, via Instagram, that Essien has been spending time training with the Premier League side.

Terry’s photo was subsequently tweeted by foxsports.com.au and, in a move that could in fact confirm that a move to Australia is on, the tweet was liked by Melbourne Victory - as seen in the below tweet from Fox Sports’ Daniel Garb.

PETROV: I WOULD HAVE PLAYED FOR VILLA FOR FREE

Stiliyan Petrov has revealed it felt like “my heart was taken away from me” when he was told that he would not be offered a contract by Aston Villa, and that he would have played for the club for free if they had offered him the chance.

The former Villa captain, 37, had been training with their first-team this off season as he sought to resurrect his career after a battle with leukaemia. Petrov said Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo told him he’d been making good progress before the manager called him into his office merely days later to be told he would not be offered a deal.

Petrov was instead offered a job as a youth team coach but turned it down, revealing that then-Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan “went ballistic” after finding out about the club’s decision.

“I didn’t even want to get paid,” Petrov told talkSPORT. “I just wanted to finish as a footballer.

“I was told very early. I was free. I sat with Roberto Di Matteo and thanked him for giving me the opportunity. We shook hands and I wished him good luck for the season.

“I won’t be coming back [to Villa]. Not as a player. That was taken away from me. My heart was taken away from me. Because it was so hard for me to come to this pre-season and try to play again. It didn’t happen, it brought me down.

“It was funny how everything happened. I didn’t see it coming because a few days before I was walking up to the training session and I was walking shoulder to shoulder with Roberto.

“He was telling me how well I was doing, how inspirational I am, and that he was really happy to see it. ‘We played Worcester [in a pre-season friendly] and he needed to go see the new chairman.

“The next thing, he comes back and on Monday morning, he calls me in, and I thought this was going to be a general conversation. And that’s where I heard the news that I wasn’t getting anything.”

NEW AGUERO CONTRACT

The Telegraph reports that star Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has signed a one-year extension at the club, prolonging his stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2020.

While not yet confirmed, City are believed to be close to officially announcing the new deal with the 2015 Premier League golden boot winner.

Aguero’s existing contract, which was signed in 2014, was due to expire in 2019, with the Argentina international previously stating that he would return home and play for his first club Independiente when his contract ran out.

However, following talks throughout the off season, the 28-year-old is on the verge of agreeing to extend his stay for a ninth season.

Since joining City in 2011, Aguero he has established himself as one of the world’s deadliest strikers. He has so far scored nine goals in five games this season.

KOEMAN WARNING TO BARKLEY

Everton manager Ronald Koeman says England international Ross Barkley “needs to improve” after being hauled off at half-time on Monday night.

Barkley was replaced by Gerard Deulofeu during the Premier League clash with Sunderland and Everton went on to win 3-0, Romelu Lukaku bagging a second-half hat-trick.

Asked about the decision to replace Barkley at his Thursday press conference, Koeman explained he needs to see more from the attacking midfielder.

“There was a reason to take Ross Barkley off at half-time,” the Everton boss said.

“You play a match and analyse a match. He didn’t play well, lost too many balls. Players of that quality can’t lose those kind of balls.

“I had individual talks with Ross. He needs to improve and we will see at the weekend. He understands, we showed him the clips and there is no escape.

“You look to his qualities and he needs to be the key player between defenders and strikers, in a position to create and defensively be part of a team. In all aspects, he can and needs to improve.

“It is always possible to discuss his position. I spoke to him and we agree that the best position is in the midfield.”

SCHWEINI ON THE GREENS

While his Manchester United teammates were making a losing round trip to Rotterdam in the Europa League, Bastian Schweinsteiger has taken in a leisurely round of golf with his wife, tennis star Ana Ivanovic.

Schweinsteiger’s footballing fortunes have been on the slide ever since the pair got married in Venice during the off season, with the 2014 World Cup winner ostracised by manager Jose Mourinho and written off from the club’s books as an asset.

This comes after the former German international was told prior to the season that he is not in Mourinho’s plans and had been sent to train with the club’s reserves.

The ex-Bayern Munich man was also reportedly confronted by teammates last season after following Ivanovic to a tennis tournament rather than remaining in Manchester to re-hab an injury.

Despite his current circumstances, Schweinsteiger insists he remains committed to United, telling the Daily Mail that he: “Will be ready, if the team needs me.”