The fact of the matter is it's immaterial, he's not going. Yes, we could gain 20 million from a player who is over 30, it's a high figure, but then for what? If Berbatov had a shit season, and looked in decline, an argument could be put forward, decent money for a player on the way out. But that's clearly not the case. He was our top scorer, and one of our most consistent players in a time where we needed it most, alongside Nani. During that period, we couldn't rely on other strikers, Rooney was in awful form, and this was a season ago, not a decade. The season ended with Rooney being in outstanding form, and Hernandez accompanying him, to Fergie's own words of how the lad has had a freakish season and couldn't be dropped because of it. That's not to say Berbatov turned shit, but that another player was in better form, akin to Nani and Valencia at the time, substitute Nani's slow recovery from the horror tackle with Berbatov's lack of starts, you see a reason for their lapse. Not to mention taking on the brunt of responsibility in the first half of the season, where they were clear leaders.
Now what's to say we have the same partnership this season from Rooney and Hernandez? It's certainly not guaranteed, as much of a unbelievable success our little Mexican has been, he's been here a season, he's not ready to displace a player of Berbatov's calibre, not for a season. What's to say one of them don't suffer an injury? Or that they can maintain fitness being the two main strikers, something which neither of them did last season, none of our strikers did. You need rotation, further more, you need experience in that rotation. Owen's age and fitness hinder him at this point, as good as he is off the bench, there is a reason we weren't looking to him last season during Rooney's off period. He doesn't have the stamina. Leaving young Welbeck, who had a fantastic season on loan, and has looked even better at pre-season. It's completely ridiculous to say that Welbeck is at a level akin to Berbatovs, ability and consistency wise, but also his experience in football at this level, and with our current team. I have very high hopes for Danny, but he's still got to feel his way into the team, rather than assume a position of our last top scorer.
The point is, we don't have the quality left to replace Berbatov, and with a season like last, which showed we needed four top strikers, looking to get rid of one of the more prominent ones just doesn't make sense. We could do with 20 million, who couldn't, but we don't need it. We wouldn't have listed him, and we've categorically stated he won't be going anywhere, citing his last season and current influence in the team as reasons not too. Arguing that 20 million for him at 30 is irrelevant. Footballers peaks have extended, we know this, furthermore Berbatov's physical exertion, his style of play and role suggest to me he could play comfortably at this level for at least two more seasons. If not, let's just say the one, despite his quality and presence increasing as time as gone on. One more season, with an input like the prior, is worth more than 20 million, especially when we don't need that money, it's not going towards a deadline debt, or to fund another player, so in essence it's security money in the belief that Berbatov will not be able to offer us anything in the future. That goes against the statement released by the club today, by the statements from the manager, by the statements from the player and what we've all witnessed, he is not in decline, and as long as we extend his contract, his input will be there on offer.
