Should Dimitar Berbatov leave Manchester United?

Yesterday I wrote an article about two young players establishing themselves at Premier League champions Manchester United next season.

However its one of their more experienced stars who will be worrying about playing first team football in the new season.

Excluded

The former-Bulgarian international was left out of the squad that faced Barcelona in last seasons Champions League final. His exclusion lead to speculation that he could be heading for the Old Trafford exit door.

The striker was believed to be absolutely furious at being excluded, despite being the top goalscorer in the Premier League last season.

Rotation

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has even admitted that he would understand if the striker decided to leave this summer.

He told the press: “I’d understand that (if he wanted to leave) but you could say that about them all. I don’t pick the same team every week do I? I’ve only done that once in the last three years.

“So they all understand it’s the squad that wins the games, wins the cups and I’ve got a good squad that will be used in exactly the same way. They’ve got to understand that now and they all do.”

He continued: “It was just unfortunate for Berbatov. It didn’t make him a bad player, he was just an unlucky player in that this lad came in. But that’s football.
“But Dimitar, he’s been brilliant, first class. His training has been terrific and he’s a good type of person. A nice guy.”

Hint

To me it sounds like Sir Alex is now open to the idea of selling Berbatov. It seems strange that the manager of any team is trying to sell his top scorer from last season. However when Berbatov didn’t start Wayne Rooney and Mexican starlet Javier Hernandez struck up a good understanding.

It seems that Berbatov is now surplus to requirements at Old Trafford. Not only will he have to compete with Rooney and Chicharito but also returning youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda next season for a place in the team.

Talented

Dimitar Berbatov has always been a talented player. A player capable of producing a flash of brilliance or a goal out of nothing. He is however a player that can be frustratingly inconsistent.

He goes through spells were he will score a glut of goals and then fail to score in the five or six games. His lethargic style doesn’t help his cause either. He sometimes look lazy and disinterested.

This style hasn’t stopped the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United signing him though. They signed him because of his of ability to produce the sublime. On his day he is definitely a match winner but unfortunately he doesn’t have enough of those days.

Interested

There would be no shortage of takers for the Bulgarian if he was put up for sale. The likes of Italian side Juventus, German giants Bayern and newly-rich French side PSG have all shown an interest in signing the striker this summer.

Berbatov already has experience of playing in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen before moving to England with Tottenham. I’m sure a move to Serie A would interest the 30 year-old. A move to the French Ligue One would be a bit of a step down in class for the striker.
Staying

Even though Sir Alex Ferguson appears to be pushing him out, I don’t think Dimitar Berbatov will leave Old Trafford this summer. However if he doesn’t get enough first team football in the first half of next season I can see him leaving in the January transfer window.

Will Dimitar Berbatov be at Manchester United next season?