Dimitar Berbatov has recalled how Manchester City tried to hijack his summer deadline day transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United in 2008.
The Bulgarian striker eventually moved to Old Trafford in a deal worth £30.75 million, with Fraizer Campbell going the other way on a season-long loan.
But just hours before Berbatov completed his switch to United, Tottenham accepted an offer from City.
Managed by Mark Hughes, City had just finished ninth in the 2007-08 edition of the Premier League – two places above Spurs, but 32 points behind champions United.
Hughes never even got to talk with Berbatov after the player swiftly made his feelings clear to his agent.
Dimitar Berbatov pictured in September 2008 shortly after signing for Manchester United
Berbatov played under legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) for four seasons
He joined United after snubbing an offer from Man City, who were managed by Mark Hughes
‘They wanted to sign me on the last day of the market,’ Berbatov recently told The Telegraph. ‘I told my agent: “F*** off, we’re going to United”. Because of the history, the prestige, the players, the manager, the shirt. I never had any doubt that Old Trafford was the right decision.’
Berbatov was greeted by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester airport.
He added: ‘I was shocked because it can be intimidating and especially for me, stepping out the plane and bam you see Sir Alex!
‘I was like, “what do I say, how do I address him, will I look stupid?” I had all these questions in my head, but he was great.
‘He took us to Carrington and the drive in the car was like science fiction. I didn’t even know what to say. It was a perfect day. Exhausting, but perfect, because I had worked so hard to get there.’
Berbatov spent four seasons playing for Ferguson’s United side. During that period, he scored 56 goals in 149 games and lined up alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez.
Cristiano Ronaldo (right) was one of Berbatov’s United team-mates in the Bulgarian’s first year
Former Spurs star Berbatov won the Premier League title twice during his time at Old Trafford
He described Ronaldo as a ‘great professional’, before adding: ‘We shared a year together, he was starting to grow by leaps and bounds. He trained like an animal, he tried his best to be the best. It was nice to see that dedication up close. I don’t remember him missing a single training session.’
United won the Premier League title twice during Berbatov’s four seasons at the club.
Berbatov also experienced glory in the League Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, but not the Champions League, despite United reaching the final in 2009 and 2011.
