Sounds like bullshit planted by Fiorentina.
Berbatov | Fulham player
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Perhaps it would help to provide the source?
Sounds like the same excuse when they failed to sign Vidic.
We were getting the paperwork done when the players decided to sign for someone else.
We were getting the paperwork done when the players decided to sign for someone else.
the sun, tribalfootball
Does anyone here watch much of Fulham?
Interested to hear thoughts on how they'll line up now. If Petric/Ruiz will shift round to accommodate a front three, or if Jol will be forced to circulate now, presumably starting Berbatov most games. If the latter, who's the more likely to be his starting partner?
Interested to hear thoughts on how they'll line up now. If Petric/Ruiz will shift round to accommodate a front three, or if Jol will be forced to circulate now, presumably starting Berbatov most games. If the latter, who's the more likely to be his starting partner?
Supposedly he's said that he's lost all respect for Fergie.
He does have a right to feel a bit upset about how things went, because he should have been used more last year.
Berbatov:
Sure, his attitude was off the mark at times but he was great for us and there was little reason to treat Berba like he was treated after his fantastic campaign.
And you know what? He's right. Berba was top scorer in PL and the season after that benched.
Sure, his attitude was off the mark at times but he was great for us and there was little reason to treat Berba like he was treated after his fantastic campaign.
I don't have a problem with what he's said, especially if he was told he was part of plans in the team.
He must have been told he was needed, and especially after the year extension to his contract. He basically wasted a year of his career because Fergie told him he was an important part of the squad, when he wasn't even getting played ahead of out of form strikers. Baffling
I don't think anyone can complain about Berbatov's attitude. He was respectful while he was at the club, and it wasn't as if he was young and lernin' when we bought him. He came in his prime as the finished article hoping to do more than spend his cash.
The problem was that he was just too languid for Ferguson's style of football. Oil and water don't mix.
The problem was that he was just too languid for Ferguson's style of football. Oil and water don't mix.
Berbatov: Ferguson has lost my respect
Reuters - 51 minutes ago
Dimitar Berbatov said on Monday he had lost respect for Sir Alex Ferguson over the way his Manchester United career came to an end.
The Bulgarian striker, who moved to Fulham on transfer deadline day on Friday, said he was unhappy with the way the United manager had treated him in the final months of his four-year stay at Old Trafford.
"I don't think I deserved such treatment at United - not playing [regularly] in the last year," Berbatov told a news conference at Bulgaria's Vasil Levski national stadium in Sofia.
"I went more than 10, probably 15, times to ask the coach if they need me. And every time I was told that I'm an important player and should not leave, but then again I was not in the team.
"Maybe I should've gone when he [Ferguson] left me out of the squad for the Champions League final [in 2011]. I know he's the boss, but he has lost, to some extent, my respect because of the way he treated me."
Berbatov became United's most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 for 30.75 million pounds, and was the Premier League's joint top-scorer in the 2010/11 season with 20 goals.
The player's agent, Emil Danchev, said on Monday that Berbatov had received a late offer from Spurs at the end of the transfer window. "We were in touch with Tottenham at the last moment," Danchev said, adding that 12 clubs wanted to sign the striker.
Berbatov, who on Monday confounded expectations in Bulgaria that he would come out of international retirement, said he fell victim to a change in United's style of play.
"He [Ferguson] tried to explain to me that the team will be using a more direct style, with more speed," he said. "But I've never been among the fastest players, I like to hold the ball, this is my style.
SAID GOODBYE
"I found it hard to accept his decision [not to play him] - I still have my dignity. I scored many goals, I won the league two times, and I was the league top scorer, so it's not bad.
"I'll have no problems playing against United as this already happened in my career. But there's no point to look back again. I said goodbye to the people, who deserve it. I couldn't say goodbye to Ferguson."
Berbatov's transfer to Fulham proved controversial in Italy, as he twice turned down offers from Serie A clubs at the last minute to stay in the Premier League.
Berbatov denied he had acted inappropriately in his dealings with Fiorentina and Juventus.
"I've never personally told them, 'Yes, I'll play for you'," he said. "It's not my problem that someone is disappointed. After all, I choose where to play and be happy."
The 31-year-old angered Fiorentina when he turned his back on them last Thursday, one day before the end of the transfer window. The player then rejected the chance to move to Italian champions Juve.
"He did not deserve our city and our shirt and the values it represents," Fiorentina said in a statement.
Berbatov said: "It's stressful. One club called, then another, and a third, and then another. A man can go crazy at one point. I'm a human being and it's normal for me to hesitate."
Berbatov was in Sofia ahead of Bulgaria's 2014 World Cup qualifying game against Italy on Friday. He was called up for his country's qualifiers against Italy and Armenia but insisted he would not return to the national side.
"[Coach] Luboslav Penev was the only one who made everything possible to make me feel welcome, so that I can see that he wants me back," he said.
"We met at least twice, as friends. We discussed it but at the end of the day, the choice I made in the past still stands."
Berbatov, Bulgaria's all-time leading scorer with 48 goals, quit the team in 2010 hinting that fatigue and family commitments were behind the decision.
He deserved better. Ferguson treated him like shit.
Just because I love repeating myself, and because now he is gone Ill have less opportunities to say this in the future, Ill make this point again:
I agree with the above. And the blame for it not working out lies principally with SAF. It is the manager's responsibility to identify what is oil and what is water, who will slot in, who fits the style we want to play, who is capable of adjusting to the style we wish to play.
A drop in the ocean when set against all the wins SAF has racked up as a manager, of course. But the Berbs era will not go down as SAF's finest hour.
I can understand Berbatov feeling the way he does. But SAF has not become the most successful manager of all time by being sentimental. His one interest is Manchester United. Sometime people wont agree with him. But more often than not, he gets it right for the club.
I wish Berbatov the best. He is a classy player and he will succeed I'm sure.
I wish Berbatov the best. He is a classy player and he will succeed I'm sure.
so much for the "class act" tag
The ultimate slap in the face was when he wasn't even picked for our Europa League games.
Effectively meaningless games and still Fergie ignored him.
Totally understand his annoyance but I hope he draws a line under it now and doesn't continue with any more comments, like certain other ex-players.
Effectively meaningless games and still Fergie ignored him.
Totally understand his annoyance but I hope he draws a line under it now and doesn't continue with any more comments, like certain other ex-players.
I can see where both are coming from.
I get what Berbatov's saying and I do feel sorry for him. After finishing as the league's top scorer, he was basically demoted to 4th choice striker in the squad. He must've been wondering what he had to do.
At the same time, I get why Fergie kept him, even if he was unnecessary in the end. There was no guarantees Welbeck was going to deliver. Throwing him into the first team could reveal him not to be good enough yet, which would've left two acceptable first team strikers in Rooney and Hernandez. Without Berbatov, we were risking being short on numbers.
I see his gripe though and don't blame him.
I get what Berbatov's saying and I do feel sorry for him. After finishing as the league's top scorer, he was basically demoted to 4th choice striker in the squad. He must've been wondering what he had to do.
At the same time, I get why Fergie kept him, even if he was unnecessary in the end. There was no guarantees Welbeck was going to deliver. Throwing him into the first team could reveal him not to be good enough yet, which would've left two acceptable first team strikers in Rooney and Hernandez. Without Berbatov, we were risking being short on numbers.
I see his gripe though and don't blame him.
I bet he keeps his own counsel about the whole thing from here on in.
I can't see anything wrong with that the Berb has said here. I'm sure any player would be very frustrated to be told to still stay at a club despite not playing - especially a top class player like himself.
How did he play for Fulham the other day btw?
How did he play for Fulham the other day btw?
After all those good quotes he finally talked some bad words.
I don't know what Fergie said to him, but he should be very respectful to SAF, who take him to United.
I don't know what Fergie said to him, but he should be very respectful to SAF, who take him to United.
yeah, I see the Bebratov cult is still present despite him being a Fulham player now. Strange, none of scream murder when Tevez was unnervingly pushed out of the team.
Yup.
Strange, none of scream murder when Tevez was unnervingly pushed out of the team.
If people dont fundamentally alter their views because a player changes club it probably means those views were formed from the evidence of their eyes, rather than out of partisan loyalty. Of course everyone here wants what is best for United, not Berbatov. But it is fair to have a positive opinion about Berbs and/or a negative opinion about how he was handled or, as in my case, whether we should have ever bought him in the first place, given the reasons he didnt work out were about compatibility.
And as for Tevez: the day we won the league, when the writing was on the wall about him leaving, people were so busy protesting about his exit that they seemed to completely forget about celebrating our victory. There were plenty of people who "took his side" against SAF as well, if you want to frame it that way.
I think that Fergie treated Berbatov the same way he treated Tevez, though this time there were more strikers fighting for those two positions.
That's no reason to go to the press.
Starting a public rift with Ferguson is a total cnut move.
And the main reason why all of us hate Tevez.
Tevez was a money grabbing cnut who played plenty but left because he wasnt the top dog, went to one of our main rivals and then repeatedly slagged off the manager, having also made a massive issue about the whole thing before he even left, repeatedly giving interviews to any tabloid who wanted to talk to him about how unfair it was that he didnt play every week. He went on to celebrate provocatively when he scored against us.
Berbs has kept a signified silence throughout his time here and as far as I can see has made some very innocuous comments, after he left, in a press conference where he was no doubt grilled about the circumstances of his departure. He played a lot less than Tevez in his final two years I reckon. He left us to join a team that are nothing to us. We'll have to see what he does if/when he next scores against us, but is anyone expecting him to be as provocative as Tevez was? It would amaze me.
Fair to say the situations are quite different.
Berbs has kept a signified silence throughout his time here and as far as I can see has made some very innocuous comments, after he left, in a press conference where he was no doubt grilled about the circumstances of his departure. He played a lot less than Tevez in his final two years I reckon. He left us to join a team that are nothing to us. We'll have to see what he does if/when he next scores against us, but is anyone expecting him to be as provocative as Tevez was? It would amaze me.
Fair to say the situations are quite different.
It's nothing like that, whatsoever. Can you really blame Berbatov for his comments? He was a model professional at the club, and throughout his time here there were no complaints from him when he was benched game after game. If what he says is true and he asked the club around 15 times if he was needed anymore, to be told he's important and needed, but then not played at all - I can understand the frustration. Would I prefer him to keep shut about it, obviously, does it affect my opinion of SAF, not at all, but I can certainly understand his upset.
It was probably a very selfish decision on our part to keep Berbatov last season specially if we were clear that our style of play doesn't suit him and he wasn't in any of our plans.
One of the very few decisions that Fergie's got it wrong imo, it also cost the club financially given how low we sold him for. We also wasted a year of a player in his prime, it was a low blow considering this is a player who turned down bigger money move to come here and play. We could have at least been honest about our intentions.
Not a Berbatov fan but that's not really the kind of treatment I'd like to associate United with. I can completely understand his frustration and wish him well. He's been an impeccable professional.
One of the very few decisions that Fergie's got it wrong imo, it also cost the club financially given how low we sold him for. We also wasted a year of a player in his prime, it was a low blow considering this is a player who turned down bigger money move to come here and play. We could have at least been honest about our intentions.
Not a Berbatov fan but that's not really the kind of treatment I'd like to associate United with. I can completely understand his frustration and wish him well. He's been an impeccable professional.
How so? If anything, he deserves credit for keeping his head down while with the team and not being disruptive, unlike Tevez for example, or even Rooney at times.
It's disappointing that Berbatov feels this way, but it's hardly surprising. I think anybody who had been marginalized in such a way, particularly in the wake of a prolific season, would feel the same way (to suggest otherwise is just being disingenuous.)
I said all along he should have kicked up a fuss last summer.
It was a huge hint when he was left out of the CL final. Berbatov should have demanded a move following that.
It was clear all was not well and Fergie doesnt trust him.
It was a huge hint when he was left out of the CL final. Berbatov should have demanded a move following that.
It was clear all was not well and Fergie doesnt trust him.
I love SAF, have always backed him 100% without reserve and never doubt his motives ... but in this instance, whatever his motives were, his tactics towards Berbatov were baffling and unbecoming of him.
Bebatov is a highly skilled player, heavily experienced professional and hugely dignified gentleman. He did not merit being 'frozen out' of the squad in the way SAF chose to.
I hope there are some understandable reasons and that we come to learn what they were when SAF publishes the final chapters of his autobiography.
What is baffling is that SAF is as good as they come in identifying and decoding talent, both in terms of quantity and specificity.
SAF knew exactly the type of player Berbatov was. As Berbatov says in the interview, he has played a particular way and been very successful in that style his entire career before United.
So given SAF knew what type of player he was, why did he make Berbatov the clubs record signing when Berbatov clearly did not fit his desired strategy and way of playing.
I cant see much that Berbatov has done wrong in his 4 years. His marginal performances came largely when the team was playing a style that never utilised his genius. over time, he adjusted, hence his title winning contributions in his 3rd year.
Net net, why did SAF sign him if he had no intention playing a style that would exploit the talents of the clubs record signing?
SAF knew exactly the type of player Berbatov was. As Berbatov says in the interview, he has played a particular way and been very successful in that style his entire career before United.
So given SAF knew what type of player he was, why did he make Berbatov the clubs record signing when Berbatov clearly did not fit his desired strategy and way of playing.
I cant see much that Berbatov has done wrong in his 4 years. His marginal performances came largely when the team was playing a style that never utilised his genius. over time, he adjusted, hence his title winning contributions in his 3rd year.
Net net, why did SAF sign him if he had no intention playing a style that would exploit the talents of the clubs record signing?
Comparing Berbatov's situation and Tevez's just proves how clueless some posters can be.
Two very different situations, I understand the angry comments from both of them when they left btw but Berbatov handled things when he was at United a lot better than Tevez
Two very different situations, I understand the angry comments from both of them when they left btw but Berbatov handled things when he was at United a lot better than Tevez
That's such a stupid, simplistic way to put it. I'm sure 99.99999% of the so-called Berbatov fanboys (a group to which I would belong,) will be more interested in SAF's (and by extension United's) future success than Berbatov.
That is no way at odds with having sympathy for Berbatov, a player who, it should be remembered, chose United over the likes of City, who is a joy to watch at times, and who led the league in scoring. And despite all that, found himself completely sidelined last season.
I understand why Fergie wanted to keep him and I get why Berbatov was upset too.
This is a cut throat business though and there was obviously reasons for what Fergie did.
Been saying all summer I'll be happy to see him get a transfer, just because he's such a good footballer and it's a waste otherwise.
This is a cut throat business though and there was obviously reasons for what Fergie did.
Been saying all summer I'll be happy to see him get a transfer, just because he's such a good footballer and it's a waste otherwise.
what?
What does that comment even mean???
He's trying to say that there is no difference between Berbatov and Tevez.