Berba: City offered me more money but I wanted United

Dimitar Berbatov signed for Manchester United dead years ago on transfer deadline day after Tottenham Hotspur gave him permission to fly to Manchester to sign for City.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson picked up the Bulgarian from the airport, with Berba only having eyes for United.

In four seasons, he won two league titles, the League Cup and the World Club Cup, claiming now that some things are more important than money.

I don’t think it was that close, to be honest. My agent told me about some interest but I said, ‘Don’t even bother mentioning anyone else, I’m going to Man United,’ because of the history, the players, the tradition, everything.

I think it was the night before City signed Robinho from Real Madrid and my agent said, ‘Berba, there’s another team in for you’. I said, ‘We’re going to Man United’. He said, ‘But they’ll give you more money!’

It’s not all about the money sometimes, though. I was like a horse with blinkers. For me it was the right decision because going to the top of the mountain was my dream, especially when you come from Eastern Europe, from a small town, and no one’s done it before you. It was a great feeling.