'I swore at my agent when Man City tried to sign me - I only ever wanted Man Utd'

Dimitar Berbatov has recalled an expletive rant to his cause erstwhile Manchester United came knocking for his signature, citing however his imagination was to play astatine Old Trafford and not the Etihad

Manchester United fable Dimitar Berbatov has admitted helium took offence erstwhile Manchester City tried to motion him.

The Bulgarian striker kicked disconnected his vocation astatine CSKA Sofia earlier making a determination to Bayer Leverkusen successful 2001. After spending 5 years successful the Bundesliga, Berbatov recovered Premier League involvement from Spurs nether Martin Jol, signing for the Lilywhites successful 2006 and netting 46 goals successful 102 appearances.

And portion the present 43-year-old yet got a imagination determination to Old Trafford successful 2008, with Sir Alex Ferguson snapping him up for £30.75million, his vocation way could person taken a wholly antithetic trajectory that year. That's because, astatine the aforesaid time, Manchester City were said to beryllium funny successful the prima striker, with then-manager Mark Hughes looking to bring Berbatov to the Etihad successful a last-minute hijack.

However, Berbatov has precocious revealed that helium had nary involvement successful joining City astatine the time, with Manchester United his imagination nine for galore moons. Speaking to The Telegraph, helium said: "They wanted to motion maine connected the past time of the market.

"I told my cause 'F*** off, we’re going to United’. Because of the history, the prestige, the players, the manager, the shirt. I ne'er had immoderate uncertainty that Old Trafford was the close decision." And Berbatov's thought of the close determination was further instilled successful him erstwhile Ferguson greeted him astatine the airdrome connected the mode in.

He added: "I was shocked due to the fact that it tin beryllium intimidating and particularly for me, stepping retired the level and bam you spot Sir Alex. I was like, what bash I say, however bash I code him, volition I look stupid? I had each these questions successful my head, but helium was great. He took america to Carrington and the thrust successful the car was similar subject fiction.

"I didn’t adjacent cognize what to say. It was a cleanable day. Exhausting, but perfect, due to the fact that I had worked truthful hard to get there." Berbatov spent 4 years astatine Manchester United, scoring 56 goals successful 149 appearances portion lifting 2 Premier Leagues titles, 2 Community Shields, a League Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup.

He besides received 2 Champions League runner-up medals successful 2008/09 and 2010/11, United losing 2-0 and 3-1 to Barcelona successful the respective finals. And Berbatov's determination seemingly paid dividends, arsenic closest rivals successful City suffered tenth, 5th and third-place finishes successful the archetypal 3 seasons the striker was astatine Old Trafford, not lifting their maiden Premier League trophy until the 2011/12 season.

Post United, Berbatov spent 2 years astatine Fulham from 2012 earlier spending a play astatine Monaco successful 2014. He enjoyed a twelvemonth astatine PAOK earlier signing for Kerala Blasters successful 2017, hanging his boots up successful 2018.

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