Remember Dimitar Berbatov? Remember that gangly Bulgarian striker with the deft touch and ice-cool head in front of goal? It seems only yesterday when he was banging in hat-tricks every month for Man United and now he finds himself kicking his heels in the reserves as the Champions motor on towards another title. Sir Alex Ferguson, never one to stop a player for desire of first team football, has this week announced that the 31-year old striker is set to seek his fortune elsewhere and will be moving on in the summer.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Alex said: “His concern is not getting first team football. It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere.” It seems that Ferguson is more than content with his current attacking options, which include Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. Let’s face it, all of the above have an average age of around 23 and it’s their youthful energy and enterprise which Ferguson seems to prefer over experience – in that respect you can understand the manager’s honesty in not including the Bulgarian as part of his future plans.
It will be a shame to see Berbatov leave Man United but you can’t deny that the beanpole striker has left an indelible mark at Old Trafford and has provided some great moments in his three years plus at the club. Signing on the dotted line in the summer of 2008 for £30.75 million from Spurs, he endured a slow start to life up north but soon found his feet and became a pivotal figure.
After scoring nine goals in his first season and then 12 in his second, it was the 2010-2011 season in which Berbatov came alive for Ferguson’s men, scoring 22 league goals and excelling in a number of key games. Who could forget his performance and hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Liverpool in that campaign? His second goal of the three was arguably his finest at the club – one touch on his knee on the edge of the penalty area and then a perfectly executed bicycle kick to help the Reds on their way to three points. That wasn’t the only trio he netted that season, mind – he filled his boots against Blackburn Rovers, scoring five in a 7-1 thumping and then claimed another match ball in a 5-0 win over Birmingham City.
Sadly for the Bulgarian, the season in which he came good was also the one in which Javier Hernandez burst onto the scene and with the diminutive Mexican striking up such a strong chemistry with permanent starter Rooney, it forced Ferguson’s hand. Berbatov was soon finding himself on the bench despite his excellent goalscoring form. Indeed, in the Reds’ Champions League final tie with Barcelona, Ferguson didn’t even include Berbatov in his squad; a disappointment which the Bulgarian has since struggled to recover from.
The striker’s contract will be up this summer but Ferguson, staying one step ahead as always, will trigger a one-way clause in Berbatov’s current deal – giving him the extension of another year thus meaning that any potential suitor would have to pay a fee. The Champions would hold out for around £8 million, a much smaller segment of his original price but still a handsome sum for a man of over 30-years old. Who would take him? Well, let’s have the facts out first – Berbatov is a classy player; a man with a super touch (one of the best in the Premier League), intelligent movement and a calm demeanour in front of goal. While he has only started 10 league games this season, he has still returned seven goals – a phenomenal ratio.
Despite his age and lack of first-team practice, this Bulgarian ‘Iceman’ still has something to offer in the Premier League. Rumour has it that Paris St Germain are interested, however, I would argue that Berbatov has unfinished business in England and would be better suited at a top eight club in this country, a la Arsenal, Spurs or Everton. This summer, United’s loss will certainly be someone else’s gain; Dimitar Berbatov has plenty left in the tank yet.
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