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.
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