If Dimitar Berbatov finally finds his feet at Old Trafford this season it won’t be down to luck. The Bulgarian international has the ability to be an integral part of Manchester United’s team, but for whatever reason, it so far hasn’t worked out. Everything seems as though it should fit together for Berbatov; he has one of the best strikers in the world as a partner, he is surrounded by the best players he has ever played with and he has the greatest manager of the Premier League era. What Berbatov doesn’t have is the love of the Man Utd fans.
There is no reason however, for the fans to give him their adoration yet; if he had produced the same form that he showed at Leverkusen and Tottenham, they would be all over him, just like the fans of his previous clubs were. If everything finally clicks into gear this season, United fans will put any differences behind them and enjoy the show.
Berbatov doesn’t appear to be the type of person to fall victim to pressure, but maybe that’s part of the problem. To be a club’s record signing is always an added burden to carry, but to be the record signing of a club of Man United’s stature is something that few will ever experience. Berbatov will know that the club has parted with more of its money (£30.75m) for him than for the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. After two unconvincing seasons at the club, that pressure will only have risen, and you get the feeling that Sir Alex Ferguson will lose patience. Manchester United is the only club that Berbatov has played for where he hasn’t been the most high-profile player: at CSKA Sofia, Bayer Leverkusen and Spurs he has been main man, and has excelled. Even at international level the story is the same. Now retired, he was the captain for the last four years and is his country’s all-time top goalscorer; a record of 48 goals in 77 games is a record that only the best players can achieve – what United would give for that sort of return. Maybe Berbatov struggles with having to share the limelight he is used to. But when Wayne Rooney was injured during United’s title push last season, the team looked to Berbatov to step up and provide the goals, and spearhead the team onwards, but Berbatov’s form, and the title, failed to materialise.
Sir Alex Ferguson still believes that he has a player of the highest quality at his disposal, and that the pressure by United fans may have been premature:
“He’s an important player for us. It’s an old habit when players who come to United and they’re not scoring three goals a game or making 50 passes they get slaughtered. He has great talent. You can’t dispute the man’s ability – he’s a genius at times. Maybe it’s going to be his season now.”
Much will depend on Javier Hernandez: the Mexican’s verve in the Charity Shield has got United fans’ salivating at the thought of a combination with Wayne Rooney, and Sir Alex must decide who he prefers to partner the Englishman. Should Hernandez set Old Trafford alight, Berbatov’s role may diminish at the club, and there will be a host of interested parties vying to take him off Ferguson’s hands. Ferguson will be frustrated because he knows he is not that far from having a potent strikeforce, and can’t quite place why it hasn’t worked. Everything is in place for Berbatov’s United career to take off, but that has been the case for the last two years also. You feel that he has to start well, if he can score goals early on it will boost his confidence and help prove to himself he is worthy of his place at the club. Few can question his ability, but this may be his last chance to show the United fans it still exists.
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