Dimitar Berbatov has said all the right things since becoming a Red Devil. After cutting a sulky figure on the Spurs bench for the past few weeks, we see a new, happy player emerging.
He is at his dream club.
Whilst Berbatov has received a lot of stick for his moody behaviour, now that he is a United player, it’s important to look at this side of him more favourably.
Berbatov wanted to sign for United and his current club were stopping him. He had honoured the interest they showed in him back in 2006, signing for Spurs instead of waiting to see the result of the Ruud van Nistelrooy talks with Real Madrid.
He’s scored over 20 goals for them in his two seasons there and now, before he misses his peak, wants the chance at playing Champions League football. Spurs had aspirations to play in top European competition, but they haven’t fulfilled them.
Should a player of Berbatov’s quality, who knows he is being given the opportunity to play for Manchester United, play Champions League football, be expected to show smiles on the bench?
Berbatov had two years remaining on the four-year deal he signed with Spurs, so wasn’t entitled to a move anywhere. However, in terms of the business of football, no club aspires to have a want-away player with just one year remaining on their contract, as their transfer worth diminishes rapidly, knowing their player could leave on a free the following summer. For Spurs to make serious money on the £10 million they paid for him, they had to sell him this summer.
Whilst I am firmly of the opinion that if you’ve signed a contract, the club are well within their rights to make sure the player sees out that deal, this doesn’t always mean it is the best result for player or club.
In the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, he had only signed a 5-year-contract just over 12 months before talk of him leaving for Real Madrid arose. It was ridiculous that he could, so soon after signing a lengthy contract, engineer a move away from the club.
Whatever Spurs fans might say, the situations are different.
However, for the idea to come about that Berbatov reacted differently than the vast majority of players would is fairly naive. It is a simple fact that there are varying appeals of different clubs, going up in leagues.
For a lot of players, United would be a more desirable club than Spurs. For a lot of players, Spurs would be more desirable club than Sunderland.
For a lot of players, Sunderland would be a more desirable club than Bristol City. For a lot of players, Bristol would be a more desirable club than Southampton.
And it goes on and on.
Would a player at Sunderland be all smiles at the start of the season, knowing Spurs wanted to sign them and they could be playing UEFA Cup football, but their club was holding out for a larger transfer fee that Spurs were seemingly willing to pay?
Course not.
Would a player at Bristol City be happy to play there knowing that a Premiership club were interested to sign them but they were being held back?
Course not.
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