Berbatov edging closer to Man Utd move -reports

16:44 Tue 15 Jul 2008 - Alex Bivol

Bulgaria's football captain Dimitar Berbatov was close to completing a move to Manchester United, reports in Britain claimed on July 15.

Broadsheet The Telegraph and tabloid Daily Star both reported that Tottenham Hotspur was ready to sell the Bulgarian striker for 28 million pounds (35.4 million euro) to the reigning champions of England.

United were unwilling to go above their own valuation of 25 million pounds (31.6 million pounds) and would wait on Spurs to lower their asking price, Daily Star said.

The Telegraph, however, while saying that "United have distanced themselves from reports claiming the clubs have agreed a £28 million fee for the Bulgarian," added that the two clubs were close to striking a deal.

The Red Devils have had their initial offer of 20 million pounds (25.3 million euro) rejected at the weekend, but were content to wait for Spurs to settle for their second offer, which the White Hart Lane club might still do to give manager Juande Ramos the money he needs to make his own signings.

Berbatov has scored 23 goals in each of his two seasons in London since joining from Bayer Leverkusen for 10.9 million pounds (13.8 million euro) in 2006. He has been reported to be eager to leave Tottenham for Champions League football, though most of the quotes in that respect came from his agent Emil Danchev, rather than the player himself.

Comments

Comments by lily_lane - 20:05 15 Jul 2008
	Nice to see an article from Sofia on this issue that is low key. Whilst I don't doubt that Berba wants to, and may still, move to MU, I sincerely doubt that any negotiations have begun at all, as MU have not met the Spurs asking price. He even played for 45 mins for Spurs yesterday in a training match in Spain. If a fee had been agreed do you think he would've been allowed to do that? I'm sure MU would've insisted he be kept in cotton wool. However the dreadful standard of journalism in the British press knows no bounds, so continue to treat these stories with scepticism till you see it announced on the official Spurs website is my advice. In this case Emil Danchev has not helped his famous Bulgarian client at all to facilitate a move to his desired club, instead he has only hindered matters with his unprofessional behaviour of speaking out to the press at every opportunity since Berba first arrived at Spurs 2 years ago. He is a most unprofessional Agent, and Berba should disassociate himself from his tawdry services asap in my opinion, though as he's a loyal person to family and friends, I doubt he will.