Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has jokingly indicated that he may be interested in buying Christian Atsu’s Newcastle United, according to Sky Sports.

Mayweather — who according to Forbes — was the highest paid athlete of the last decade, earning $915m (£686m) in that time.

The five-weight former world champion was appearing at Newcastle's O2 City Hall over the weekend as part of his Evening with Floyd Mayweather tour.

In a video posted on TMZ, event moderator Steve Wraith put it to Mayweather that the last time he was on Tyneside it was being reported that he was very interested in buying Newcastle.

In response, Mayweather said: "In the US we call it soccer, but the Newcastle football team is an unbelievable team…..a hell of a team."

As the crowd erupted, Mayweather added: "If the people want me to buy the Newcastle team, let me know!"