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Post by Chris on Mar 14, 2012 19:57:07 GMT
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United's record signing Dimitar Berbatov is set to leave Old Trafford in the summer.
The £30.75m forward has found first-team places difficult to come by since being left out of the United squad for last season's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
And, on the eve of tomorrow's last-16 Europa League second leg tie with Athletic Bilbao, Ferguson confirmed the Bulgarian is set to leave in the summer.
"His concern is not getting first-team football," said Ferguson. "At 31, he is looking at first-team football.
"It is difficult for me to guarantee that so it could lead to him looking elsewhere."
Berbatov's contract is due to expire in the summer.
However, rather than let the former Tottenham man leave for nothing at the end of the season, they will trigger a one-way clause to extend the deal for a further year.
That would mean United would get a fee for the player, who was linked with former club Bayer Leverkusen during the January transfer window.
However, the Reds hierarchy know they would get nothing like the mammoth sum they paid for the striker, whom Ferguson had such high hopes for when he arrived but has never quite managed to fulfil them, despite ending last season as the joint Golden Boot winner.
"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," said Ferguson.
"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."
Ferguson confirmed Berbatov is again set to miss out tomorrow as United look to overturn a 3-2 deficit from last week's home encounter.
"He could play tomorrow but I have good options in terms of front players with Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney," said Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has confirmed midfielder Anderson will be out of action for between four and five weeks with a hamstring injury
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Post by tommyred on Mar 14, 2012 21:14:51 GMT
Hopefully that wasn't your headline.
Not surprising really. I like Berba but as well as everything else it's a waste of wages keeping him if he's never going to play. I wish him luck in the future if he does go.
I still think PSG would be a great destination for him. Berbatov and Paris seems like a match made in heaven and I'm sure he'd bang in a few goals in the relatively easy Ligue 1.
Alternatively he'd also be great in Serie A for a few years.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 21:29:20 GMT
Yeah looks like he could be off then.
I've always liked him, not everyones cup of tea and that's fair enough but I loved him at Spurs and was well happy when we signed him.
Getting some cash in and freeing up wages however is only a positive if we then use them on some equal quality.
Bringing in more Bebe's, Diouf's and Obertan's is a complete waste. We've concentrated on young un-proven players for the last few years, if we can now afford to pay someone some big wages, how about a young, but proven, player for once?
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Post by fletchabey on Mar 14, 2012 22:20:12 GMT
As Fergie pretty much says, he's not in our top 3 strikers and we shouldn't be having someone on ~£100k benchwarming. Shame it turned out like it did, he can be great to watch and seems a top bloke. the sad fact is if people want some changes in summer, he's got to be one going the opposite way.
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Post by redcase on Mar 14, 2012 22:27:26 GMT
Thanks for all you've done Berbs. Will always remember that hat-trick against the Klan. Always a red.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 22:33:28 GMT
Im not suprised to be fair, It took him 3 poor seasons to hit his form and after last season he deserves first team football. Hes been a good signing for us overall though and Will remember his 3 that sunk the Racists more than anything. Great player with a good first touch but as fletch said its a shame its turned out this way but hes too good a player to have on the bench so deserves to the respect to leave. Good Luck Berba and thanks for helping us to Number 19. Your goals helped knock them off their perch SOMETHING THAT CAN NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN.
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Post by redcase on Mar 14, 2012 22:41:15 GMT
I can't help but wonder though now thinking about it. Who are our other established strikers? Chicha, rooney, Welbeck. Out of which 2 have been injured at lengths. Would've been better to have Berba with us, but Paul is right, he is too good to be on the bench. But now, somehow, our striking department looks less staffed. And I can't help but wonder, is this sale being done to facilitate a big signing, because berba has a 100k salary(?) if I'm not wrong. Probably it's being done to bring in someone high profile? Can't help but wonder.
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Post by ericactor1 on Mar 14, 2012 22:41:37 GMT
Not surprised.
I didn't expect him to hang around for long without first team football.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 22:54:47 GMT
I can't help but wonder though now thinking about it. Who are our other established strikers? Chicha, rooney, Welbeck. Out of which 2 have been injured at lengths. Would've been better to have Berba with us, but Paul is right, he is too good to be on the bench. But now, somehow, our striking department looks less staffed. And I can't help but wonder, is this sale being done to facilitate a big signing, because berba has a 100k salary(?) if I'm not wrong. Probably it's being done to bring in someone high profile? Can't help but wonder. Im hoping instead of wasting valuable transfer funds on the wrong position our squad needs that he bleeds or promotes one of the youngsters up like Will Keane whos been impressive in the reserves. Plus im hoping that sack of shite Macheda will fuck off giving us a few more quid to chuck in the midfield kitty. |
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Post by redcase on Mar 14, 2012 23:16:32 GMT
Yeah I don't want him to spend in the summer for a striker either. And Macheda has fallen on hard times of late, I do feel for him, he was such a talent, don't know what's happened to him. But I could never call him a sack of shite mate lol, never. Just because he made Martin Tyler squeak like a little girl. . If we do sell him, I wish him well wherever he goes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 23:21:26 GMT
The problem with Macheda is hed be good for a championship team or a lower prem side, hes had so many chances to impress and unfortunately for him hes still hanging on his goal against Villa. If Berba cant get into the first team then its extremely unfair to give Macheda another chance.
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Post by redcase on Mar 14, 2012 23:27:01 GMT
True on that count too. No way Macheda over Berba. Not in his current form,.
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Post by jimbonda on Mar 14, 2012 23:49:52 GMT
i'm gutted a player as silky good as berba is has never really nailed it at united. he's a special player, there's a lot of overhyped footballers in the game but berba is in a select class. it's a massive shame he hasn't made united his platform like cantona did.
agree with tommo, he could rip it up at PSG or serie A. i can see him back in Germany, although i'd like him to do it in seria A and show ibrahimovich who's fucking boss.
still, The Times football supplement front page of him scoring the overhead goal against the dippers is ready for a frame to be stuck on a wall somewhere.
hopefully we'll see a bit of him before the end of the season, one more moment of berba magic would go down well.
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Post by jimbonda on Mar 14, 2012 23:52:55 GMT
I can't help but wonder though now thinking about it. Who are our other established strikers? Chicha, rooney, Welbeck. Out of which 2 have been injured at lengths. Would've been better to have Berba with us, but Paul is right, he is too good to be on the bench. yep, he's too good for 4th choice. not counting owen because he's often injured and as bit part a player as you'll ever see we are gonna be down to 3 aren't we, unless ferguson sees one of the reserves stepping up. can't see macheda making it so i'd expect ferguson to bring in another striker in the summer, ideally someone a bit different to what we already have. |
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Post by mightyez on Mar 15, 2012 7:48:25 GMT
lets all hope anzhi come in and do us a favour with a 10 million bid, with anyluck they'll also take ando at 15 million.
that warchest allows us to get a midfielder of quality.
for strikers we are fine, we have a top 3 and keane or petrucci can support or move giggs there to do a rooney role when he needs a rest
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