Dimitar Berbatov is set to leave Manchester United in the summer after both Sir Alex Ferguson and the player’s agent confirmed that the Bulgarian will seek a new club in June. The striker, who has scored 56 goals in 147 games for United, is out of contract in June, although Ferguson has previously stated that United will activate a ‘one-way’ one-year extension to the former Tottenham Hotspur player’s deal. But with no extension yet confirmed, and United seemingly unwilling to keep the 30-year-old’s £5 million per season deal on the books, the striker is likely to start next season away from Old Trafford.
“I had three meetings with (United manager) Alex Ferguson,” said Berbatov’s agent Emil Danchev on Sunday.
“We should accept that he’ll try to build a team for the next three or four years and Berbatov will not be part of this team. Ferguson wants to change the playing style, to implement more speed. I was pleased with United’s position as they said they’ll not oppose Berbatov’s move in the summer.”
On Friday, Ferguson admitted that Berbatov has grown unhappy at the lack of first team football this season, with the 70-year-old Scot leaving the Bulgarian out of United’s squad for matches against Athletic Bilbao and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the past week. Famously, Berbatov failed to make United’s match-day squad for last May’s Champions League final.
“I understand he wants first-team football,” said the United manager.
“It’s difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere. We will be taking up the option on his contract but, having had chats with him, I understand he wants to get first-team football. It is something we need to consider at the end of the season. For a player of his age and his ability it is disappointing for him that he is not getting first-team football. We will look at the end of the season but until then, he remains at United.”
Berbatov’s ‘world-class’ talent has never been in doubt, but the end product has often been called into question, leaving fans and manager frustrated. But will you miss Berbatov when he leaves Old Trafford for the final time in May?
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Voted yes, but I’m pretty sure that I read somewhere that his one year extension was invoked by United.
Invoked so he’s not out of contract and doesn’t leave for free this summer – now we can sell him on
I love watching Berba (who doesn’t, really?), but still I voted No. He just has never seemed to fit at Utd, all for reasons Paul and Ed have talked/posted about. It’s a serious shame. Wonderful player. Time to move on, though. We’ll always have his night at center back in the league cup.
Was – and will see this season out as – an effective impact sub but I think we’ve enough options up front if Rooney & Chico stay fit.
no sorry never rated him at united which is a shame cos i rely liked him at spurs.
last season he only scores against the small teams like the:
5 v lackburn = small team
3 v Birmingham City = small team
3 v Liverpool = small team!