Leverkusen rule out Berbatov return

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser has labelled reports linking Dimitar Berbatov with a return to the BayArena as ‘pure speculation’.

The Bulgarian’s agent said on Tuesday that Leverkusen had enquired about the Manchester United forward returning to the Bundesliga club.

But Holzhauser played down the reports, and said they would not consider Berbatov while he remained under contact at Old Trafford.

“This is pure speculation,” he told DPA.

“Also, we do not want to get involved as the Bulgarian is currently under contract with Manchester United.”

Reports have also suggested Holzhauser has been in touch with Berbatov, who left Leverkusen in 2006 to join Tottenham, before moving to United two years later.

Holzhauser said he had spoken to Berbatov, but the discussions were not about a potential move.

“I view this (the speculation) with some displeasure,” Holzhauser said.

“The contact between Berbatov and I was only based on a friendly nature.”

In his most recent match, United’s 5-0 drubbing of Wigan on Monday, 30-year-old Berbatov netted a hat-trick.

In addition to Leverkusen, a number of other clubs have been linked with his signing, including Tottenham and Fulham.