- Feb 17, 2008
- 2,310
- 4
Thank you for the link, Lily. I watched the whole interview for a first time and it's more revealing than it seemed to me while reading the written reports.
First, Danchev was asked about his comment of the opinion, shared by some English journalists and Spurs fans, that Berbatov is happy at Spurs and he is the bad man who constantly speculates about his future and wants to secure him a transfer in order to gain money. Danchev responded to this question that he has no qualms as he represents Berbatov's interests and makes what both find good for Berbatov's future. Berbatov has developed well as a player, he's already 27 and it's normal for him to look for the next step in his career as he isn't going to play 100 years football.
Then, Danchev criticisied a publication by a Bulgarian media that accused Berbatov that he, by contrast to Carrick, is going to quit Spurs in a not particularly good manner. Danchev said, the journo was bad informed about Carrick. There are some problems between Man U and Spurs because THFC's bosses were forced to sell Carrck due to the fact the latter stated absolutely categorically he wants out and left Spurs no chance. So, it's a myth that Spurs sold Carrick to make a profit, he forced them to sell him.
Then, Danchev was asked why Berbatov is underestimated wages wise, given that younger players like Modric and Bent (will) have bigger salaries than him. Danchev said that money are not priority to Berbatov. More importantly, if Berbatov got more money it would be more difficult to move to a bigger club. So, his words imply that it has been a deliberate policy Berbatov to stay on relatively lower wages because this could make a transfer easier. Then he said that it's no problem Berbatov to become the highest paid player at Spurs, if he stays after the summer. But from the context it was clear that not bigger wages but the next step in his career is the more important thing for Berbatov.
In sum, it's clear from the interview that Berbatov wants to to play at a higher level (CL club) and would stay only if such a move did not happen. I think this was clear also from Ramos words that it's late to try to change Berbatov's mind. No one from the journos at the p/c asked Danchev as to whether Berbatov really wants to move to an European grand as this was taken as self-evident imo.
Finally, Danchev said that the possible transfer fee papers wrote about in January (£35-40m) is "absolutely unrealistic".
That's the best I can do Lily, I guarantee that the translation is as correct as my knowledge of English allows it.
:up: Thanks Petyr! Much appreciated. :clap:
Interesting questions they asked him! :wink:
Regarding Carrick's transfer, the player himself said that once he knew MU were in for him he wanted to move there, but I wasn't aware of any lingering "problems" between MU and THFC as Danchev claims? :shrug:
With respect to Berbatov's wages, well Dan Ashcroft has said he earns about £39,000 per week. Berba himself said to BG Media that at the start of this season Spurs gave him "a small increase in wages". Who knows what the true accurate figure is? AFAIK he refused to sign the new contract offered to him last season as Spurs would not include a buy out clause in it, and stalemate was reached. But I'm quite appalled at Danchev's musings about how a deliberate policy of keeping his client on lower wages would make it easier to get a transfer to a bigger club!! Eek
It makes him sound like Berbatov never had any commitment to stay at Spurs at all, and always intended to move asap. No wonder then that there is bad feeling caused by his pronouncements, and no, he is quite wrong, and chided the BG journos falsely, Carrick's case was entirely different to this. Carrick joined Spurs in good faith from West Ham and I'm sure would've been happy to stay had MU not come along, but understandably he wanted to move once that became known to him. He or his Agent did not agitate to move throughout the 2 year period he was a Spurs Player. The MU bid came in the Summer, out of the blue. Negotiations took place. He moved. End of. Good Luck to him. He's done very well.
Sadly, with Danchev's antics, one suspects the same won't be said to Berbatov by every supporter.
I agree with you Petyr, and as I suspected, if a bid comes in for him, he will move. Any notion that he would somehow choose to stay at Spurs was far too optimistic.
Incidentally he took part in a special 60th Anniversary match for CSKA today in Sofia. The All Stars team was coached by Lothar Mattheus, Berba scored a goal, and the final score was 6 - 6. Presentations were made to former players and they've all had expensive black marble slabs with gold stars and their names inscribed, quite impressive really.