Friday, March 29, 2024

Why Manchester United should sell Dimitar Berbatov this summer

Despite being the joint top scorer in the English Premier League last season alongside Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov found playing time hard to come by in the latter stages of Manchester United’s season. After being left off the match-day squad for the UEFA Champions League Final, Berbatov was no where to be seen. When asked about his whereabouts, Berbatov responded:

“To be honest, I was in the dressing room. I watched the final from there. This was embarrassing for me – that I was not included in the group. I didn’t want people to see the pain in my eyes.”

“I will remain at United. I will fight for my place and I will fight for title number 20.”

“If I was a man who gave up easily, I would never be here in the first place – starting July 4, everything begins all over again – my personal fight to be in the first team, and for United to win more titles.”

Should United keep Berbatov as their second striker option behind Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez?

At the moment, all signs are pointing to no. The most obvious reason is that Bulgarian international is in the final year of a four-year deal he signed in September of 2008 following a £30.75 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur. Surely United are keen on getting some of their investment back, making a move seem likely. After United’s friendly versus Marseille earlier this week, Ferguson was quoted as telling a French journalist that he could “absolutely” see Berbatov playing in Paris.

According to Fox Sports, Paris Saint-Germain are set to make a move for the Bulgarian talisman. The rumoured transfer fee is £18 million.

Saving money is not the only reason United could afford to sell Berbatov this summer. Sir Alex has a problem most managers would dream of, an overabundance of quality strikers. With forwards Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck, and Mame Biram Diouf set to return to Old Trafford after loan spells in 2010-11, Berbatov could find his playing time evaporate entirely.

Macheda is coming off a good showing on Manchester United’s US Tour. His nightmare loan spell at Sampdoria last season ended when the Italian-side were relegated to Italy’s Serie B following the club’s abysmal form toward the end of the season. The Azzurri U-21 international scored just one goal in 16 appearances for la Samp.

Mame Biram Diouf found himself on loan with Blackburn Rovers during the 2010-11 Premier League season. Diouf bagged 6 goals in 29 appearances for Rovers and helped keep the Lancashire-based club in England’s top-flight.

Of the three United strikers who spent last year on loan, Danny Welbeck enjoyed the most success at Sunderland. Despite playing the majority of the season out of position as a midfielder, Welbeck still managed to score 6 goals in 28 appearances for The Black Cats. After his successful loan spell, Welbeck was rewarded with his first cap as an England international in a friendly against Ghana on March 29, 2011.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shawn Etemadi


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  • kuromi

    0 0

    fergie, don’t sell him yet unless you have done the experiment! I’m serious!

  • kuromi

    0 0

    berbatov?
    hmmm…
    he can hold the ball really well.
    not only once, but a number of times I saw him being introduced late in their game, I saw something. the opposition player got difficulties to snatch the ball away from him. while this happened, other united players are already all over the penalty box waiting for the ball. then berbatov made beautiful passes to his teammates.
    to me, if I’m the manager, I would do some experiments and give Berbatov a chance as a playmaker. he’s not suitable for high-speed sprints, let other young strikers do that.
    yeah, he should be a playmaker.
    he has vision!

  • ELIJAH

    0 0

    Sir Alex never attempt to lose Dimitre Berbertov because he contribute alot to man u.And now you people want to sell him out because u have aboundant strikers.Is unfair, as u can see Berbartov luvs man u so much,if not he would have left since last season .Please know how to use Berbartov very well he is a good player.

  • Rxzion

    0 0

    He should be sold because he’s old and quite frankly he has nothing to offer to united

  • tusiime nickson

    0 0

    due 2 d fact dat d man is getting old, let him give the young players a chance also 2 prove their talents hernandez

  • Tabuley Justice

    0 0

    with the arrival of serious and promising youngsters like Javier Hernanades and with Wayne Rooney’s required agility coupled with B erba’s laziness,i really think it’s United’s time to cash on him.Being last seasons top scorer was not analytical as he was not consisitent in his scoring run.

  • Lazarus

    0 0

    It doesn’t matter wether he leaves or not. Mamatov has nothing to do wit myself and chelsea. He is not even good to play chelsea’s team B.

  • Chelsea FC Fan

    0 0

    It is good business sense to off-load your golden boot winner at peak value…especially when it’s pretty obvious that his playing time is in jeopardy…United may never get an offer, for what PSG is expected to pay for him, after this season…

    Personally, I’d hate to let go of impact players, but when Berbatov throws a tantrum over team decisions, that SAF makes, i’m guessing Fergie is thinking this guy is past his due date at United.

  • Nicky S

    0 0

    The toon will have him, hes fit straight into ameobis position haha

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Nicky S. Haha, well said

  • Brad

    0 0

    forget him not being an impact player off the bench, he’s an impact player starting. He’s too good not to be starting even with the likes of Chicharito around.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Brad. At the moment I can’t see Berbatov starting the season as the lead striker. Hernandez is not only a better finisher, but he’s more active and provides much better runs off the ball than Berba.

  • Trooper

    0 0

    @Sam Owen has proven to be anything but useless. Not many games, not many minutes but not many opportunities. However, as Blackpool and Victor Valdes can tell you, this clinical finisher is far from being useless.

  • Trooper

    0 0

    @Shawn Etemadi. I do agree that Berbatov is not an impact player off the bench, and I also agree that 20 million would be a very good return three years after paying 30.75 million. I am still not convinved though that the younger strikers are as reliable once we get past Rooney and Hernandez on our depth charts. We would at least need to have a guarantee of some goals from the midfield, and fair play to Welbeck and Cleverley thus far, there link up play ahs been nothing short of impressive in the pre-season. I believe we still need a consistent goal threat from the midfield at least before selling Berbatov though.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Trooper. I agree with you that some of the young strikers are not the best finishers as of now. That’s why I think that United should pursue German attacking midfielder Mario Götze, and not Sneijder, if and when they sell Berbatov.

  • emmanuel

    0 0

    sell berbatov, and get someone for the midfield

  • emmanuel

    0 0

    united, needs midfielder

  • Sam

    0 0

    I think that United will hang on to Berbatov for another year given his experience. Just imagine if hernandez or Rooney become injured, is the coach going to trust Macheda, welbeck or Diouf to pick up the slack? I think SAF will keep him just to be safe

    Anyways wouldn’t you rather sell that useless Michael Owen guy instead??

  • sahil

    0 0

    berbatov should be sold…we have many young strikers..plus owen..

  • Trooper

    0 0

    How do you compare any of those 3 young strikers (Macheda, Diouf & Welbeck) with the world class talent that is Dimitar Berbatov? His vision, his touch, his hold up play are paralleled by only Wayne Rooney in our team! I do admit he needs to be less wasteful in front of goal, however a return of 20 goals for us at crucial early stages in the 2010/2011 campaign is nothing to scoff at.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Trooper, I think If United are offered a fee in the region of 20 million for Berbatov they must sell him. He wasn’t getting much playing time towards the end of the season and he can’t make as much of an impact as a substitute.

  • Brad

    0 0

    But Manchester United would never sell to Liverpool. We should all know that Akinwale.

  • AKPUKPOR MOSES

    0 0

    i strongly believe that berbatov still have something to offer to united so i suggest in remains as the first choice attacker to chicharito despite chicharito been a good attacker but let berbatov unravel what is in is inside.

  • Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis

    0 0

    Liverpool need to add one dependable striker and one central defence,if they want to be among the top four.

  • Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis

    0 0

    Liverpool need to add one dependable striker and one central defence,if they want to be among the top four.

  • AKPUKPOR MOSES

    0 0

    i strongly believe that berbatov still have something to offer to united so i suggest in remains as the first choice attacker to chicharito despite chicharito been a good attacker but let berbatov unravel what is in is inside.

  • Brad

    0 0

    But Manchester United would never sell to Liverpool. We should all know that Akinwale.

  • Trooper

    0 0

    How do you compare any of those 3 young strikers (Macheda, Diouf & Welbeck) with the world class talent that is Dimitar Berbatov? His vision, his touch, his hold up play are paralleled by only Wayne Rooney in our team! I do admit he needs to be less wasteful in front of goal, however a return of 20 goals for us at crucial early stages in the 2010/2011 campaign is nothing to scoff at.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Trooper, I think If United are offered a fee in the region of 20 million for Berbatov they must sell him. He wasn’t getting much playing time towards the end of the season and he can’t make as much of an impact as a substitute.

  • sahil

    0 0

    berbatov should be sold…we have many young strikers..plus owen..

  • Sam

    0 0

    I think that United will hang on to Berbatov for another year given his experience. Just imagine if hernandez or Rooney become injured, is the coach going to trust Macheda, welbeck or Diouf to pick up the slack? I think SAF will keep him just to be safe

    Anyways wouldn’t you rather sell that useless Michael Owen guy instead??

  • emmanuel

    0 0

    united, needs midfielder

  • emmanuel

    0 0

    sell berbatov, and get someone for the midfield

  • Trooper

    0 0

    @Shawn Etemadi. I do agree that Berbatov is not an impact player off the bench, and I also agree that 20 million would be a very good return three years after paying 30.75 million. I am still not convinved though that the younger strikers are as reliable once we get past Rooney and Hernandez on our depth charts. We would at least need to have a guarantee of some goals from the midfield, and fair play to Welbeck and Cleverley thus far, there link up play ahs been nothing short of impressive in the pre-season. I believe we still need a consistent goal threat from the midfield at least before selling Berbatov though.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Trooper. I agree with you that some of the young strikers are not the best finishers as of now. That’s why I think that United should pursue German attacking midfielder Mario Götze, and not Sneijder, if and when they sell Berbatov.

  • Trooper

    0 0

    @Sam Owen has proven to be anything but useless. Not many games, not many minutes but not many opportunities. However, as Blackpool and Victor Valdes can tell you, this clinical finisher is far from being useless.

  • Brad

    0 0

    forget him not being an impact player off the bench, he’s an impact player starting. He’s too good not to be starting even with the likes of Chicharito around.

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Brad. At the moment I can’t see Berbatov starting the season as the lead striker. Hernandez is not only a better finisher, but he’s more active and provides much better runs off the ball than Berba.

  • Nicky S

    0 0

    The toon will have him, hes fit straight into ameobis position haha

    • Shawn Etemadi

      0 0

      @Nicky S. Haha, well said

  • Chelsea FC Fan

    0 0

    It is good business sense to off-load your golden boot winner at peak value…especially when it’s pretty obvious that his playing time is in jeopardy…United may never get an offer, for what PSG is expected to pay for him, after this season…

    Personally, I’d hate to let go of impact players, but when Berbatov throws a tantrum over team decisions, that SAF makes, i’m guessing Fergie is thinking this guy is past his due date at United.

  • Lazarus

    0 0

    It doesn’t matter wether he leaves or not. Mamatov has nothing to do wit myself and chelsea. He is not even good to play chelsea’s team B.

  • Tabuley Justice

    0 0

    with the arrival of serious and promising youngsters like Javier Hernanades and with Wayne Rooney’s required agility coupled with B erba’s laziness,i really think it’s United’s time to cash on him.Being last seasons top scorer was not analytical as he was not consisitent in his scoring run.

  • tusiime nickson

    0 0

    due 2 d fact dat d man is getting old, let him give the young players a chance also 2 prove their talents hernandez

  • Rxzion

    0 0

    He should be sold because he’s old and quite frankly he has nothing to offer to united

  • ELIJAH

    0 0

    Sir Alex never attempt to lose Dimitre Berbertov because he contribute alot to man u.And now you people want to sell him out because u have aboundant strikers.Is unfair, as u can see Berbartov luvs man u so much,if not he would have left since last season .Please know how to use Berbartov very well he is a good player.

  • kuromi

    0 0

    berbatov?
    hmmm…
    he can hold the ball really well.
    not only once, but a number of times I saw him being introduced late in their game, I saw something. the opposition player got difficulties to snatch the ball away from him. while this happened, other united players are already all over the penalty box waiting for the ball. then berbatov made beautiful passes to his teammates.
    to me, if I’m the manager, I would do some experiments and give Berbatov a chance as a playmaker. he’s not suitable for high-speed sprints, let other young strikers do that.
    yeah, he should be a playmaker.
    he has vision!

  • kuromi

    0 0

    fergie, don’t sell him yet unless you have done the experiment! I’m serious!

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