Dimitar Berbatov has spoken publicly about his controversial Tottenham exit – and revealed that he actually asked manager Juande Ramos to not play him because he wasn’t in the right frame of mind.
Not long before the beginning of the 2008-2009 campaign, the Bulgarian striker, who had scored 46 goals in two memorable seasons at White Hart Lane, had been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
With Berbatov’s mind clearly elsewhere, seven days after playing the final 25 minutes of Spurs’ opening day defeat at Middlesbrough, which proved to be his final appearance for the club, the striker asked to be left out of the matchday squad for the home game against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Berbatov was also absent for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in late-August, before signing for United 24 hours later on transfer deadline day.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, Berbatov said: “In that moment, I was not concentrating, so I was telling my coach, the director of football Damien Comolli, ‘guys, I am not concentrated enough’. If I am on the pitch, I will be a bad influence, because I am thinking, unfortunately, about other things.
“Manchester United, is it going to happen, is it not going to happen. So I am not going to be help to anyone, so I think it’s better if I don’t play.”
You can watch the full interview below and everything he said about leaving Tottenham.
