Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov is ready to pledge his future to Manchester United for the rest of his career, while Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has insisted the club were right to let him go.
Berbatov is not due to make his debut for the Old Trafford outfit until they visit Liverpool on September 13. But Berbatov's desire to play for United is so strong - and his belief in the club so great - he cannot see himself playing anywhere else.
He told MUTV: ‘I know I can develop here in the way I always wanted. That is the most important thing for me. I am 27 now. I am at the biggest club in the world and maybe this could be the last step in my career.’
A #30.75million deal with Tottenham was finally confirmed just past midnight, concluding a long-running saga and ending a dramatic day, during which cash-rich Manchester City looked as though they were about to step in and hijack the deal.
Yet, while the waiting world may have wondered whether the 27-year-old was ready to abandon United in favour of City, and their new-found wealth, Berbatov confirmed he had never wavered in his desire to join the Red Devils.
‘I don't play for the money,’ he said.
‘Those who know me, my really close friends, know that I play for enjoyment and to entertain the fans. If I want to play for the money, I will accept the Manchester City offer or Chelsea. But the red shirt is a really big thing for me. I want to play for the biggest club in the world. That is why I am here.’
In joining a club that has won the Premier League title for the last two seasons and added the Champions League trophy to their haul in May, Berbatov has a lot to live up to. Not that the challenge bothers him. Indeed, it is one he is relishing as he bids to add more meaningful medals to the Carling Cup gong he won with Spurs last term.
‘Trophies are an important thing in football and I want to help this team win more,’ he said.
‘I have handled pressure and expectation all through my life. I am not scared of it. That is why I am here. The most important thing is to enjoy myself, help the team win more trophies and entertain the fans.
‘If I do that and play as I have done in my last two years at Tottenham, I don't think there will be any problem.’
Having now gone on international duty, Berbatov must wait for his debut. But at the back of his mind, there remains the expectant thrill to come from that first game at Anfield.
‘I would love to play there,’ he said.
‘We live for the big games and I think this is the biggest. I can't wait to play.’
Levy insists the club were right to allow Dimitar Berbatov to join Manchester United.
As the transfer saga dragged on, coach Juande Ramos left Berbatov out of the Spurs squad for two Barclays Premier League games because of concerns about his frame of mind. Berbatov's departure - with Fraizer Campbell arriving at White Hart Lane on loan in exchange - followed that of fellow striker Robbie Keane, who joined Liverpool earlier in the summer.
Levy told www.tottenhamhotspur.co.uk: ‘The decisions we took to allow the transfers of Berbatov and Keane were made after close discussions with the coaching staff. Juande was clear, and I believe correct, in not wishing to embrace any player within the dressing room that had no desire to play for the badge of this club and for his team-mates. Under these circumstances we had no option but to sell these players.’
Levy has also urged the Premier League to ‘review the system’ after agreeing not to pursue a complaint against United for making an illegal approach to Berbatov.
However, Tottenham remain clearly far from happy with the way the 27-year-old exited White Hart Lane - he insisted on joining United despite Manchester City making a higher bid.
‘There are no guarantees in football and this summer we found ourselves having to deal with the unexpected challenge of both our leading goalscorers making it clear they wished to leave the club,’ Levy continued.
‘I have already stated my opinion on the manner in which our players were approached and the nature of the negotiations surrounding Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. Monday's events were further evidence of the need for the Premier League to review the system.
‘I have also previously said that we had no need to sell players on long contracts - this no longer remains practical.’
Levy is confident Tottenham still have a strong squad, with big things expected of Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who joined from Spartak Moscow, and Campbell.
‘I should hope that fans look at our squad and acknowledge the undoubted talent and quality of our new signings,’ Levy added.
‘But I cannot deny that I share with them a disappointment that we couldn't add further to replace attacking options. It has also been the case again that because we have been a buyer in the transfer marketplace we have been subjected to much speculation and our name has been connected to deals and situations that we had nothing to do with; attempts by selling clubs to push the value of players up has also seen us wrongly accused of not wishing to pay certain sums, again unfounded.’
