Fergie Says “BERBATOV Unlikely”, CRUZ Signs On - Are United Buying ANYONE?
August 22, 2008
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Wouldn’t it be annoying for us United fans if all of the weeks of hype and anticipation over the
desired transfer of Dimitar Berbatov came to naught?
Well, brace yourselves fellow United fans: Fergie didn’t sound too upbeat at his latest press conference when asked how negotiations were going:
“I’m feeling less optimistic right now. We are looking at something, but if it doesn’t come off then we will carry on as we are.”
It’s clear that Berbatov was Ferguson’s preferred candidate, clear that Berbatov would like to join United (even ahead of Barcelona) and clear that Spurs would entertain selling him - but only if United are willing to cough up top dollar for the privilege.
It’s equally clear that it is this latter condition that has hindered the completion of the deal. Refusing to acquiesce to Spurs’ fee demands can variously be seen as a kind of prudent brinksmanship from United or from another perspective - as a revelation of United’s financial impotence.
On the one hand, spending in excess of £25 milion on a 27-year-old striker with a smoking habit looks somewhat risky. Then again, there is no denying Berbatov’s genius - he has the flair and artistry that United fans have longed for ever since Cantona packed it in (football not smoking) over a decade ago.
Ronaldo is an amazing player, probably one of the top three in the world at the moment - but is he as cool as Cantona? Nowhere near. That coolness - added of course to deadly finishing - is the quality Berbatov embodies.
Given Ferguson’s downbeat comments today we have to wonder whether Berbatov will ever get the chance to make himself a legend to rival Eric the King.
If he doesn’t make it to United, the disturbing possibility looms of us siging precisely no one. There has been scant news of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Roque Santa Cruz has today extended his contract with Blackburn Rovers, disappointing suitors from across the Premier League and beyond.
What would signing no one imply about the state of United’s finances? Surely Fergie wouldn’t be happy with that scenario only days after reminding us that he would ideally like to operate with four strikers.
Worrying indeed.
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10 Responses to “Fergie Says “BERBATOV Unlikely”, CRUZ Signs On - Are United Buying ANYONE?”
What Do YOU Think ? Leave A Comment:
yep -welcome to the nasty reality of the glazer ownership, starting to kick in as the credit crunch crunches…
United just don’t have the money to see the berbatov deal through. Better buy a cheaper alternative now and make it look like we lost patience with tottenham - as a face saver…
I hope you’re not right and that is just mind games from SAF — but I’ve got a horrible feeling that you’re right. We’re no better off than the red Scousers who can’t cough up the dosh for Barry. How can the Rent Boyz fail — barring an international arrest warrant or a plutonium cocktail?
no club in their right mind would pay £30 million for berbatov, its not about whether man utd have the financial backing or not. That figure would only work in the premiership where someone like gareth barry is being sold at the same price as someone like Robinho.
Berbatov is good, in fact hes very good. But he does not warrant anyone paying £30 million for him. Even Rooney on current form doesnt deserve a £30 million price tag…even tevez would be closer to £25 million. Why would fergie pay even more for berbatov than he did for Rooney or Tevez?
For me its simple, get Manucho and Frazier Campbell ready and you dont need to waste £30 million on Berbatov. A reasonable price tag would be closer to £25 million for berbatov, Man Utd dont run the Bank of England for gods sake!
United MUST bring in at least one more striker (Actually, 2 more should be better, as Saha always injured, Manucho will not get a work permit this season, and Cambell’s still not good enough for the highest level like this).
In my opinion, signing Berbatov, if success, is good, but at the moment it seems like it’s will never happen. Roque Santa Cruz’ve just signed a new four years deal with Blackburn. Huntella, for me, is still not good enough, as at the moment he’s still behind Robin Van Persie, Van Nistelrooy, Ryan Bable, etc. in the Dutch side. So, what’s are the option left?
United should go for Thierry Henry. Henry , at 31, is still quick, full of experience and maturity, and his skill and pace will no doubt benefit this young talented United side a lot. Even though he will be cup tied for the Champions League journey, but United will benefit from him a lot in Premier League as he always score goals against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, etc. and I ‘m sure he will score against his old side, Arsenal.
Imagine, Henry on the left and Ronaldo on the right…. Both are quick, full of pace and skill. Both are good provider and can always score goals. The signing of Henry will turn United into another level of entertaining and most dangerous football side in the world.
If United can sign one more striker (as a cover), we should go for Alfonso Alvez (Middlesbrough). This guy is full of strength, pace, power, and very good at finishing. In my opinion, if we can sign these two, no doubt, United will be the best team in the world.
well i woud be disapointed if we didnt sign anyone but should we bow down and give in to that idiot levy…i dont think so,hes a tube at the highest order..we wont be held to ransom buy an”what we call in belfast”ejit..we won the league and champions league without him so we dont despreatly need him..tevez is back and lets give young campbell and manucho a chance..and you never no saha might make 1 game this season as long as he doesnt injure him self while having a dump.
Panic not Utd fans. If he comes good if he doesn’t good. You just need everyone in the team to get back and carry on where they left off from, as you could see against newcastle we were short of our players who were all over the place - olympics, treatment table, bereavement. Seems like De ja vu from last year, however chins up apparently Chelski were 7 points ahead after three games and we all know what happened then…
Plus this has got nothing to do with money and the Glazers pulling out of anything. They’ve left Sir Alex to get on with the job and they won’t interfere now. We did most of our shopping last summer so I don’t understand why some fans are still anxious. What astounds me is that certain strikers in Europe feel it necessary to say no to us, like Benzema and Aguero if you believe the papers that is. If that was the case then good luck to them, but the lure of Manchester United is far bigger than one could imagine, because in Sir Alex you have the complete football manager. That’s why rivals fans get sick and tired with us because at the end we have the manager to pull us out of anything. They don’t (maybe Arsenal and Wenger the exception).
Ferguson blows more smoke than a factory chimney. He may say one thing, means another. Take everything he says with a big pinch of salt.
Myself and most of my fellow Spurs fans want to keep him because he is world class.
But it is very simple really - we want to keep Berbatov but he is yours for £35m - can’t say fairer than that.
BTW £32m for Tevez? You got robbed
we need a new stricker and possibly another midfielder, keeping in mind that ronaldo will eventually leave united, its better to bring one now
I think