Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has failed to
live up to the reputation he made for himself at Tottenham,
according to United legend Denis Law.
Berbatov has managed to score just 26 goals in two seasons at
Old Trafford and his performances have been widely criticised since
his £30.75 million move from White Hart Lane in August 2008.
''I don't want to knock him. He hasn't come up to the standard
he set at Spurs, but when he was there he looked an extremely good
player,'' Law told the Manchester Evening News. ''He's
always had that laid-back style, even when he was at Tottenham, and
that's what the fans admired him for but now he gets criticised for
it.''
Law, who scored 237 goals in 404 United appearances, said he
hoped Berbatov did not turn out to be another expensive misfit like
£28 million midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who joined from Lazio
in 1999 but lasted just two years at Old Trafford.
''He [Veron] looked an excellent player with Argentina and in
Italy, but when he came to United he didn't do it,'' Law added.
''He was a commanding player, yet when he came to United he
wasn't.''
Meanwhile, Berbatov has announced he will quit international
football after speculation in the Bulgarian media suggested he had
grown tired of continuing criticism.
Berbatov, the team's captain for the past three years, will
retire to focus more on his club football.
''I came to the decision that as of now I have retired from the
national team,'' he said. ''It wasn't a decision I took lightly and
I have reconsidered several times. Everything has a beginning and
an end and that is today.''
''I feel exhausted and now there are many guys who can emerge
from my shadow. For them the moment has come. You should always
know when to stop. I haven't discussed it with my club team. I
guess it will come out in England and Sir Alex (Ferguson) will call
me.''
Berbatov, who has made 74 international appearances, is
Bulgaria's all-time leading scorer and netted his 48th goal for his
country in a friendly against Malta.
