The latest reports are now saying that Dimitar Berbatov was driven to our Carrington training ground and is in talks with Sir Alex Ferguson, after the manager himself went to pick him up. Excitement around the red side of Manchester mounted, until a bulletin on Sky Sports News announced that Real Madrid were bidding a whopping £36.5 million for the player. Desperate for a big signing and probably eager to get one over on the club that denied them Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish club are doing all they can to throw a spanner in the works for us.
Mark Hughes confirmed that the offer they had put in for Berbatov was a British transfer record, meaning we were are looking at something around the £33 million mark. If this bid is accepted, then it will still be down to Berbatov which club he plays for, even though Real Madrid have offered more.
Of course though, this will be testing times for Ferguson’s negotiation skills. Real Madrid are obviously a massive club, but the fact that they haven’t been able to secure any of their transfer targets this season, as well as Robinho desperately wanting out of the club, indicates life isn’t so rosy at the Bernabeu. However, making Berbatov aware of that is what will be important.
The news must reach Ferguson of Real Madrid’s bid before he allows the player to leave Carrington. It is rare for a player to meet with Ferguson and then decide against a move to United. Whilst explaining to Berbatov all the privileges that come with being a United player, as well as the trophies he can win, he’ll have been discussing reasons against signing for City. He now has Real Madrid to contend with as well.
Essentially, if Manchester United are willing to match the bid City have already had accepted, and Berbatov is as keen to sign for us as he makes out, then by the end of the day he will be a United player. But we can’t rule his head getting turned by Real Madrid, as has happened with so many players before.
edit. 5pm. After an hour and a half of talks, Ferguson has left Carrington.
edit. 5.45pm Daniel Levy insists Ferguson has not been given permission to talk to the player. Real Madrid have confirmed they are interested but no bid has been lodged.
edit. 7.15pm Reports suggest Berbatov has undergone a medical at United. He still has not met with Mark Hughes at City.
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I have always believed that the first bid by UTD – 20 million quid – was quite reasonable considering his age and the very crucial fact that he can activate his anti-slavery “Webster” rights next summer.
IF Madrid are willing to spend this amount then I would love to have their line of credit. ManShitty’s new backers seem to have an unlimited pot of gold, too.
So, it looks like UTD might have to “make do” with Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez. The same guys who won it all last year – the oldest being only 24.
The money not spent can be squirrelled away to buy Karim Benzema who has always been my number-one-choice.
Besides, like Mick and Keef sang, “you can’t always get what you want but sometimes, sometimes, you get what you need”.
Rather he went to City or Madrid than us pay out 30+ million. Anyway we still have Manucho to come into the team and anyone watching the African Cup of Nations knows that he has real talent and again is under 25.
I can’t believe there are any Utd fans left who want him. He’s demonstrated pretty clearly that he’s a prima dona, and the way he’s treated Spurs has been shocking. I’d much rather get in Benzema (unlikely) or even Huntelaar. We definitely need a striker, but not one with his attitude. Apparently Real are sniffing around David Villa – it’d be nice to steal a march on them.
We have 4 strikers, that simple fact concerns me. I was ok with 5 but now that Saha is gone we need someone and since our smart businessmen have only left us with one option, we have to sign him. We can not go into the season with only two proven strikers and two players who we can only hope will succeed.
If we don’t sign him that does give Campbell and Manucho more chances in the team, and saving that money could allow us to make a big signing next year. All though two big signings might be necessary since Ronaldo will be sought after once again by Madrid.
I will say this in Berba’s defense, this happens in American sports all the time. Not that this makes it ok in anyway but hold-outs over contractual issues, not wanting to be in there current franchise, or just wanting a new scene with new challenges.
Madrid can offer all the money they want but if we are talking to Berba, that leads me to believe we have made a big thats been accepted, otherwise Berba would not be allowed to meet with Sir Alex. Tottenham can’t cancel there deal once they have accepted it, they can only accept the deals and let the player choose. (I could be wrong about this but this is my understanding of the rules.)
Benzema would have been great….still would be. Just hope we don’t pay a king’s ransom
RELAX GUYS RELAX…………….WE ARE STILL UNITED…….
madrid can pay what ever to block UTD from getting the player but can’t deny UNITED of trophies that’s just the simple thing. Cheers Guys always UNITED.
I have a dream. Its name is klaas… i dont want that primadonna berbatov.
BBC are saying that we didn’t even have permission to speak to Berbatov. We surely did. Ha ha ha ha! The plot thickens. This is like a f*****g Agatha Christie!!!
So is the story true that berbatov is having talk with Sir Alex? Cause from what scott says bout levy insisting that ferguson does not have permission to him. I’m confused which one is real. But it’s posted on sky sports that indeed he’s having talks with man united and usually sky sports are reliable with their stories. Any confirmation guys?
The BBC says that Ramon Calderon has told them that Madrid WILL NOT bid for Berbatov. So whatever that means, he also said that they were not trying to tempt Cristiano Ronaldo.
Robinson Macgregor and Terese said it all. We are Manchester United. We don’t NEED anyone. The only person we really need is our current manager.
What a dilemma?!United or City
He wants to play for United, so anyone else buying the guy for more than £30 million will not be getting the same player that will join us.
However, Real Madrid, once again do not fail to make me laugh. Lots.
Please God dont match Citeh’s bid. 33 fucking million?? For a soon to be 28 year old??? I honestly don’t care where he goes, if he signs for Citeh I wont lose one minute of sleep over it. If he goes to Real, won’t care at all. If he comes to United for anything over 20 mil though, THEN i’ll be angry. This is bad bad bad business.
On another positive note, maybe the signing would be a kick in the ass for Rooney to get in shape. Because honestly, with current form, and of course Berba comes in and is a positive for us, I cant see leaving Carlos out of the starting 11, to do otherwise would be criminal. But spending close to 30 million for a super-sub? This is stupid on so many levels.
Drew – if he goes anywhere it’ll definately be over £20m. He wants to play for United and to be fair, we’d all like to see a signing or two within the next 4 hours…
…and in my opinion, he is worth every penny of £30m. Yes, he may be 28, but that offers us at least 4 years of a superb player at the peak of his game (age wise). £30m isn’t even that much in football terms anymore. Any old player is sold for between 20 and 30 mil these days, Robbie Keane for instance.
I don’t think there is much foundation to the reports that Real have put in a huge bid and as for Citeh, they will always amuse me. Oh well, at least they’ll help spice up the race for 6th place with their new owners.
Yeah 20 mil is just my personal evaluation of his worth. And you say four years at his best? That would be incredible.
A very difficult day if you asked me,anyway seeing Berba holding our T_shirt and snubbing Man shitty offer, would suit me .
Also, 34M is a way too much,though Berba is the best striker in the EPL.
It begs the question as to why we didn’t make a move for him earlier if we want him that bad. He wasn’t involved at the Euros this summer so therefore he had no distractions, so why didn’t we make an offer as soon as the European Cup Final was finished?? The fact that City have made an offer for him plus Villa and Gomez is laughable to say the least, if Berbatov doesn’t move to United, then he should go to Real Madrid, even though they are scum.
I can’t wait to see those silk moves and touches on the ball, I pitty those teams we ve not played yet bse he wants to prove him self
I agree that £30mil is way too much but you need to consider that Rooney-Tevez is not a great tandem, they are too similar and, frankly, Tevez should be the guy that comes on at 70′ when we’re losing/drawing. He’s not good enough to be a regular first team player. I like Manucho but he’s injured and, as of yet, unproven. I too would have told Spurs to fuck off with their £30mil demands and would have let Manucho show his skill but we need to recognize that last year Chelsea, despite their internal turmoil and backroom problems, came in only an inch behind us. We won the Premiership by 2 points and the Champions League on penalties. Chelsea have upped the ante with Deco, Bosingwa and if we need to spend £30mil to ensure we’re still half an inch further than Chelsea then I guess so be it.
BERBA SIGNED FOR UNITED EARLIER IN HIS HOMELAND\
WHAT ELSE WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT ……..RELAX GUYS RELAX..
….WE ARE STILL UNITED!
UNITED FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR…..
EXTRA 5 MILL WAS PAID AS HUSH MONEY..TIME WAS RUNNING OUT, SPURS WOULD DROP THEIR LAWSUIT AND WOULDNT REALEASE REGISTRATION..THEY COULDNT GET REPS STRIKERS EITHER…..HENCE WE HAD TO DO SUMMAT WITH IT APPROACHING 11.45PM..HENCE EXTRA 5 MILL HUSH MONEY…REG RELEASED…DOCUMENTS GIVEN…CAMPBELL A SWEETNER…CASE DROPPED.
STILL 31MILL WAY TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH