Dimitar Berbatov has endeared himself even further to the Manchester United faithful after recalling his X-rated response to Manchester City’s interest.
The Bulgarian icon linked up with the Red Devils from Tottenham in 2008 in a £30.75million transfer, where he enjoyed four trophy-laden seasons at Old Trafford.
Berbatov scooped two Premier League titles and as many Community Shields, as well as lifting the League Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 2010/11 season saw him claim the Golden Boot with 20 top-flight goals, with his dazzling displays earning him cult hero status at the Theatre of Dreams.
But he could now be regarded in the legend bracket after revealing he swore at his agent having been informed the Citizens attempted to hijack his United switch.
Spurs accepted an offer from City, but then-boss Mark Hughes never managed to speak to Berbatov with the former Bayer Leverkusen man only having eyes on United.
Recalling the dramatic deadline day 16 years ago, he told The Telegraph: “They wanted to sign me on the last day of the market.
“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 subsequently met by Sir Alex Ferguson upon his touchdown at Manchester airport.
He said of their meeting: “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.
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“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.”
While Berbatov opted to join United over City, the move was in danger of collapse – until Fraizer Campbell agreed to join Spurs on loan from United.
In his hunt for first-team football, United academy graduate Campbell had been set to link up with Wigan, only for Ferguson to inform him of the situation.
Speaking on the United podcast in January 2023, he said: “It was the international break, so I was with the England Under-20s or U21s, I know I’m going on loan, and I’m sat with Steve Bruce, he was at Wigan at the time.
“So, I’m going on loan to Wigan, just speaking to the people and waiting for the faxes to come through so I could sign.
“It’s getting later, waiting for this fax to come through and I get a call from a withheld number, so I was like, ‘Hello?’
“And [Sir Alex says:] ‘Oh, Fraizer, it’s Sir Alex here. I’m going to ring you back in five minutes and you’re going to need to give me your answer, but I’ve got a deal for Berbatov going through, it’s £30m, it’s only going to go through if you agree to go there on loan.
“‘So, I’m going to ring you back in three or four minutes with your decision. Speak to you in minute.’
“And that was it. I was hardly going to say no.”
