Dimitar
Berbatov vows Manchester United will be the big
winners from
striker's Bulgaria
retirement.
Flying start: Berbatov fires United ahead against
Newcastle at Old Trafford
Dimitar Berbatov is confident
Manchester
United will feel the benefit of his
decision to retire from international
duty.
It is the route taken by a number of senior United men over the
past few years.
Paul Scholes is the obvious example but Ryan Giggs and Edwin van
der Sar also believe they have extended their careers by
concentrating solely on club matters, and Wes Brown opted to
announce his retirement from the England scene immediately before
last week's friendly with Hungary.
For Berbatov, the decision must have been made more difficult by
the knowledge Bulgaria open their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign
against England at Wembley next month, while, with Wales in the
same group, the 30-year-old knew he would not have to get involved
in extensive travelling.
However, his mind was made up long before the draw. And, after
registering two goals in United's opening couple of fixtures this
season, including the opener in the 3-0 win over Newcastle at Old
Trafford, Berbatov is confident he has made the correct
decision.
'Everything comes to an end at some point,' Berbatov told United
Review. 'I said to myself a long time ago that when I got nearer to
30 I would step down and let the younger guys take over.
Club man: Scholes quit England in 2004
'You need to know when to stop and that was the right
moment for me. Now I can concentrate fully on my football with
United, have a bit more rest during the season and enjoy watching
my country.'
Berbatov has tended to be regarded as an unnecessary component
within the Red Devils' set-up.
Even though Sir Alex Ferguson spent a club record £30.75million
on the striker to lure him north from Tottenham, he has never quite
delivered what United hoped.
He remains an enigmatic character, although, for a short time at
least, he is managing to keep Wayne Rooney in the
shade.
'Football is like art,' he added. 'My aim is to create beautiful
things on the pitch and to help the team be
successful.
'I want this to be our season. Our aim is to win the title back
and I know we have the players to do it.'