Dimitar Berbatov has been included in Tottenham's squad to face Middlesbrough despite reports he is close to joining Manchester United.
The Bulgarian's whereabouts had been the subject of conjecture for most of the morning, with continued reports he was completing the finer details of a move to Old Trafford.
However, he disembarked the Spurs bus at Middlesbrough wearing a club tracksuit and with a baseball cap pulled tightly to his head, before sidling through the players' entrance.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson added fuel to the fire with his remark during his Friday press conference there would be a "surprise" to come in the next 48 hours.
sekali man utd sign kaka or robinho
Mmm...he's only on the bench for Spurs.
He's on as sub.
nice touches but effin lazy sia.. how like that..
Juande Ramos has shed little light on Dimitar Berbatov’s future, refusing to confirm or deny that the Bulgaria striker is bound for Manchester United.
Berbatov’s move to Old Trafford has been mooted for much of the summer but the two clubs last week looked to have reached an impasse over their respective valuations.
Tottenham got their Premier League campaign underway with a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, after which Ramos played a straight bat to questions over his prize asset.
The Spaniard said: "For the moment Berbatov is a Spurs player. We are happy with him, he is part of the Spurs squad and there is nothing to say about it, I don't have any comment to make on it."
Berbatov started the game on the bench and was not introduced until midway through the second half, but Ramos was insistent that his absence from the starting line-up was not linked to United’s very public courting.
"We actually opted for Giovani [dos Santos] because we thought that his speed would be something that would trouble Middlesbrough," Ramos added.
"However, as Middlesbrough tired in the game we thought it might be the right moment in the game to throw on Berbatov."
no update?
Been really quiet.
Still waiting for Fergie's surprise.
what if the surprise is "SURPRISE! NO TRANSFERS!"
All signs are pointing that direction...
well, the deadline is aug 31, right??
heard MU chasing for the signature of huntelaar.....confirmed news or just another rumours?
Originally posted by iceFatboy:well, the deadline is aug 31, right??
Still no news at all. really cannot smell any smoke. *@#&!
Dimitar Berbatov is out of Tottenham's squad to face Sunderland after Juande Ramos accused him of having a negative effect on the squad.
Berbatov has handed in a formal transfer request and wants to leave White Hart Lane for Manchester United, with a departure appearing inevitable now Ramos has left him out of his squad for the clash with Roy Keane's side.
Ramos has scheduled a meeting with the Bulgaria striker Sunday to discuss his future.
Ramos explained: "As I said on Thursday, I needed to wait and speak to the player when he returned from international duty and then make a decision about whether or not he was right to play in this game.
"I have not selected him as I do not think he is focused enough and I do not feel that he will be good for the dressing room and the team effort.
"It doesn't matter how good a player is, if he is not in the right frame of mind, then he will not perform well. The only thing I concern myself with is picking the best team to try and win the game.
"I shall talk to the player on Sunday, he is our player and we shall work with him at training."
Dimitar Berbatov will complete an acrimonious move from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United within days after the Barclays Premier League champions finally reopened formal negotiations over the weekend. United made a second formal bid in the region of £25 million on Saturday and a deal appears imminent after Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, declared that the saga must be resolved.
“It can’t last longer than a week because the transfer window closes next week [on September 1],” Ramos said. “I hope the situation is resolved before then, but there is a deadline.”
No direct discussions had taken place for several weeks, with the clubs in contact only through intermediaries since an opening £20.5 million bid was rejected by Tottenham last month. United made a second formal bid on Saturday and, although Daniel Levy, the North London club’s executive chairman, had been holding out for a £30 million fee, an agreement is thought to be imminent. Berbatov’s absence from the squad on Saturday may impact on the fee Tottenham receive, given that the club seem to have conceded publicly that he cannot stay at White Hart Lane.
Jonathan Woodgate, the central defender, refused to blame the transfer saga for Tottenham’s poor start to the season and insisted: “A football club is bigger than one player. It’s the manager’s decision and whatever he does, we’ll back him to the hilt. He makes the decision and we’re not going to ask questions. There’s been no disruption to me. He [Berbatov] comes in and does his work but if the manager says he’s not ready, he makes the decision. It goes on in football. Man United have come in with a bid but it’s up to the chairman to do the right thing for the football club.”
Roy Keane, whose Sunderland side inflicted a second successive defeat upon Tottenham, advised Spurs not to capitulate. “You still try to do the right bit of business for the football club,” Keane said. “I don’t mean you should lose money, but you lose the player and try to get the right deal for your club. Trust me, there are not many top strikers out there, so you hold out and, eventually, these big clubs have to pay the money.”
The club came under fire from some supporters on Saturday who question a transfer policy that has left Ramos with one striker, Darren Bent, after the sale of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe and the sulks of Berbatov. “It’s not my decision,” Ramos said. “It’s the club’s decision.”
Berbatov’s arrival at Old Trafford will delight Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been desperate to sign a top-class forward to compete with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez. Louis Saha will be allowed to leave the club, with AS Roma and AS Monaco having joined Sunderland in expressing an interest, while Ferguson is waiting to hear whether Manucho, the Angola forward, will receive the work permit that he needs to play or the club.
well,his situation reminds me of ronaldo just that the role reversal.
well, let's hope this situatione ends amicably.
this de surprise? wat kinda fucked up surprise lol..
Even Everton got their first signing already...we havent..
Man utd's ultimate epic failure....
no thread to discuss todays game??
apparently, the format has been changed
I already said that the new format sucks leh
Originally posted by Master -_-:apparently, the format has been changed
I already said that the new format sucks leh
ouh. . . so wheres the discussion thread under. . .
hmmm time for me to find it
its stickied dude hahaha.
Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:its stickied dude hahaha.
found it!