Football Special Edition: Dimitar Berbatov’s 30 million pounds finally paying off?
Dimitar Berbatov is as stylish a footballer as they come. Over the years, his effortless grace and skill on the ball has become his trademark. Berbatov started off his career at CKSA Sofia, where he spent three years. Berbatov made his major European move
at a young age of twenty. He joined Leverkusen in January of 2001 after rejecting an offer from Serie A outfit Lecce. Berbatov’s performances for German outfit were steady, if not spectacular. As he started to blossom, particularly after 2003-2004 season,
his stocks began to rise and big European teams began noticing him.
In summer of 2006, English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspurs signed the Bulgarian for 16 million Euros, thus making him the most expensive Bulgarian player of all the time. At White Hart Lane, Berbatov formed a lethal partnership with Robbie Keane.
The duo jointly won the Premier League Player of the Month award on one occasion. Berbatov was never a great scorer; it is his hold-up play and intelligence that wins him all the praise and plaudits. Indeed he scored just 27 league goals and 70 appearances,
yet managed to win Sir Alex Ferguson over for a transfer.
Manchester United signed Berbatov for 30 million pounds, one of the most expensive transfers in British history. Expectations were sky-high of the striker. Berbatov had a decent debut season scoring 9 league goals and making 10 assists. His next season also
showed a decent return of 12 goals but one that does not justify a 30-million-pound price tag. Berbatov was criticized by some sections of the supporters for his poor goal-return. Manchester United relied heavily on young sensation Wayne Rooney, as Berba failed
to produce the goods. His questionable form made Alex Ferguson drop the striker in several key matches, as speculation began to rise that Berbatov was leaving the club in the near future. Ferguson, however, fiercely supported the stylish striker.
Berbatov had an impressive pre-season and his form in to sixth match of the League campaign has been scintillating. Berbatov now looks every inch the 30-million-pound striker that he was paid out to be. Following Rooney’s relatively poor form and United
needing the striker to step-up, Berbatov has done just that. He is now revelling in the central striking role. Last night’s match against fierce rivals Liverpool was the acid test for the player and the striker passed with breathtaking colours.
Berbatov scored a stunning hat-trick, thus, becoming the first Manchester United player to have scored a hat-trick against Liverpool since 1946.Three goals of the highest quality. His overhead kick to score his second was sublime, reminiscent of Ronaldinho’s
stunner for Barcelona against Villarreal. Poor Pepe Reina did not even have to move. Berbatov has now scored a fantastic 6 goals in 5 appearances and things look bright.
With Michel Owen frequently out injured and Rooney struggling to make an impact, Berbatov is the ideal man to look up to when the team requires the goods. It will take a lot more than six goals to justify his price tag and all the hype, but the Bulgarian
striker is on the right track and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon. Furthermore, the striker is just 29; at this age most strikers ace their game. A certain World Cup golden ball winner Diego Forlan comes to mind. Since Berbatov is not the type of a
player who relies on pace and explosiveness, he has at least 3-4 years in his legs. The former Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen striker is enjoying arguably his best spell for Manchester United, and there is every possibility that he will fulfil his boundless
potential this time around.
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