Ligue 1 - Berbatov tipped for PSG move

Wed, 03 Aug 10:44:00 2011

Alex Ferguson has hinted that Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov could be set for a £20 million move to Paris Saint Germain.

Ligue 1 - Berbatov tipped for PSG

PSG are backed by Qataris and have embarked upon a summer spending spree under new sporting director Leonardo. They have been linked with Berbatov all summer, but only thought to have approached United in the last few days.

After a United XI lost 8-2 to Marseille in a charity match in Monaco, manager Ferguson was asked by French television whether Berbatov, 30, might make a move to Ligue 1.

"Yes, he might," he replied. "That's possible."

Bulgaria star Berbatov has been unsettled at United for some time despite finishing last season as the Premier League's joint top-scorer with former United star Carlos Tevez, now at Manchester City.

He signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75m but, despite a hat-trick against hated rivals Liverpool last season, struggled to oust Mexican sensation Javier Hernandez from the starting line-up.

That culminated in 'Chicharito' starting the Champions League final at Wembley against Barcelona while Berbatov did not even make the bench.

A £20m fee would represent a significant loss, but allow United to step up their pursuit of Internazionale playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who would cost more than £30m.

Berbatov said last week that he would be unwilling to make a step down from a club as prestigious as United.

"Smaller clubs might be able to match Manchester United with the way they play, with their organisation, everything. But Manchester United are at the top," he told PA. "Where can you go from there?

"Maybe Barcelona. At the moment, I don't see anything else. If you go somewhere it is a big step down. For me, I always went up, up, up in my career. I am happy."

PSG have signed Mohamed Sissoko, Salvatore Sirigu, Milan Bisevac, Jeremy Menez and Blaise Matuidi so far this summer while a £37m deal for Argentina star Javier Pastore is all but complete.

The charity match on Tuesday evening was organised by former l'OM goalkeeper Pascal Ometa, of whose charity for gravely ill children Ferguson is a patron.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. Berbatov is "lazy lazy lazy", watched him­ live for past two seasons & he spends 85 mins of­ each game strolling around dis-interested, while Rooney­ gives 110% & tries to get involved & effect the­ game. I used to love Tevez at United for his shear work­ rate alone but he was also talented and skillful. Berb­ is on £120,000 a week when I bought my new team shirt­ for £44 to think some of my money goes to him for his­ Sunday strolling disgusts me, People say he's­ talented but I've seen him miss nailed on sitters­ & mis-kick the ball so many times it's not even­ funny anymore. When Sir Alex didnt include him in squad­ for Champion League Final I was not surprised he­ wouldn't of made a blind bit of difference. He must­ go now while we can still get some money for him, if we­ keep him another two seasons say he will be 32 & he­ wont get any of our £30 million back, now we might get­ £20 mill & Ashley Young is more of a Utd type­ player.

    From trevor m, on Thu 4 Aug 19:15
  2. Thank God he is going

    From OKPOGBO, on Thu 4 Aug 6:55
  3. At this point it's still pure speculation, but­ Ferguson's admission of his willingness to sell a­ player who'd expressed his long term commitment­ to Man United, feels like a stab in the back and may­ further compound Berba's on-feild lethargy if he­ sill remains at united. I have never believed Dimitar­ is a waste, only that they absence of a play-maker in ­ United's line-up made him seem at times­ ineffectual. Skillful as he is, his style is not well­ suited to United's wing play, quite unlike at­ Tottenham where he at least had the likes of Modric to­ do the harrowing midfield work. Berbatov is a great­ player, a magician with the ball and there's none­ better at United. As enthusiastic as Chicharito may be,­ he's still got a long way to go. What Ferguson­ should focus on is to improve his central midfeild, not­ necessarily by buying Snijeder or any other expensive­ mannequin, but by giving Anderson and some of the­ younger lads the trust and confidence to play. Also­ Nani or Giggs could assume a more central midfield/­ play-maker role. Here is why to rue Hargreaves's­ departure...

    From Chijioke, on Thu 4 Aug 5:41
  4. 8-2 HA HA

    From Wil, on Thu 4 Aug 2:57
  5. hope he goes lazy lazy lazy

    From john, on Thu 4 Aug 2:43
  6. Hope berbatov stays. Him and nani are the only players­ in the team able to come up with a bit of magic on the­ pitch. But because they don't run around like­ headless chickens chasing the ball, they are classed as­ "lazy". Ferguson should Stick Rooney in­ midfield and pair berbatov with hernandez up front for­ a start. play nani on the right ahead of valencia who­ is a limited player, then we might see an exciting team­ instead of the workmanlike one last season

    From R C, on Thu 4 Aug 2:31
  7. Bluesky882 i agree, get the kids in, Welbeck is looking­ good too, maybe have a sniff around Schweinsteiger,­ might not be as greedy...theres always Joey Barton!

    From M, on Thu 4 Aug 1:48
  8. forever utd fan am disappointed in Berba going (if he­ is) maybe lazy but has great touch and skill. Rooney­ must step up alot more plus chicco in top form.­ Sneidner is defo. not coming greed idiot like Tevez. we­ need to utilise cleverley and jones in midfield give­ the boys ago. Young can step up to help front men im­ sure. The key is whether De Gea can hold his own thats­ where we win or lose title no. 20

    From bluesky882, on Thu 4 Aug 1:32
  9. No Michael.
    Fegie understands Uniteds' debt. You­ clearly don't.

    I hope Berbs stays, but wish him­ well if he goes.

    From exustrek, on Thu 4 Aug 0:14
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Fergie is not a business oriented manager.How can he­ buy a good striker two years ago for 300K plus to­ give-away just for 20K? Berba'OFF is a talented­ attacker and we all know he is pi.ss of with Fergie for­ not letting him enjoy the two most underperformed CL­ final an English club have ever played since the­ 60s.
    Some say Berbe'OFF is up beat that it is­ because he didnt play that is why ManU woefully­ represented England in those finals.
    Am sure even Nani­ and Carrick are on the alert because Fergie doesnt care­ about ManUs debt as he did same to Nesteroy and Folan­ and regretted later

    From Michael, on Wed 3 Aug 22:32
  11. wish D.Beabatov best of luck and hope his new team will­ bring loads of happiness and success to him and will be­ able to play as before when you was at tottenham hosper­

    Sell berbatov at any price and add the amount obtain­ from this transaction and buy Wesley Sneijder.... or­ but and attacking midfielder

    From , on Wed 3 Aug 21:55
  12. Please keep Berbatov!

    From Gabriel, on Wed 3 Aug 20:46
  13. He's very talented, but is terminally lazy and­ doesn't deliver in the big games ... sell him, but­ only if a better replacement is lined up

    From liverfoolrcrap, on Wed 3 Aug 19:53
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