9. Dimitar Berbatov

	Position:	Striker
	Appearances:	48
	Goals:	15
	Joined United:	01 September 2008
	Contract Expiry:	June 2012
	International:	Bulgaria

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Biography

Berbatov finally earned his dream move to Manchester United as the seconds ticked down to the transfer deadline on September 1 2008 after a summer-long transfer sage.

The Bulgarian international had been linked with the Red Devils for 18 months and by the time the 2007/08 season came to a close it had become clear he wanted to make the move. His stance angered his club, Tottenham Hotspur, who believed he was a disruptive influence at the start of the 2008/09 campaign. After appearing as a sub in the opener at Middlesbrough he was then dropped from the squad.

Tottenham felt Sir Alex Ferguson’s pursuit of the striker broke league rules and reported United to the FA, but it was a complaint they would eventually drop when selling the player to the Premier League champions for £30.75million.

The Bulgarian’s career began in Blagoevgrad with the team of Pirin, before moving to CSKA Sofia in 1998.

Registering a goal every other game, Berbatov won the national cup in 1999 before moving to Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he played in the final of the Champions League in 2002.

Earning his first national cap as an 18-year old against Greece, Berbatov is the star of the Bulgarian team.

Scoring over 40 goals in two seasons, Berbatov earned his move to Tottenham, which he duly completed in the summer of 2006, for £10.9 million – making him the most expensive Bulgarian in history. Berbatov scored his first Spurs goal on his home debut against Sheff Utd in August 2006.

Rightly hailed as one of the best players in the Premier League after his stunning debut season in 2006/07, Berbatov was named as one of the strikers of the season by his fellow professionals at the PFA awards.

His class, grace, passing and goalscoring ability made him a King of White Hart Lane after ending his first season with 23 goals in 49 appearances.

And the Bulgarian’s exceptional form continued in his second term as he scored 23 goals in 52 appearances, including a superbly-taken penalty in the League Cup final in February.

One of the most coveted players in European football Berbatov was continually linked with moves to a host of leading clubs during the 2007/08 term and during the transfer window ahead of 2008/09 season a move to Manchester United seemed all-but certain until a disagreement over Spurs’ £32million asking price scuppered the deal.

The move was resurrected on deadline day. Manchester City with their new millions tried to nip in and gazump their city rivals but Berbatov only ever wanted to move to one club and he finally got his wish.