According to The Guardian, the north London club are
still bitter about Carrick’s ₤17million departure and are thus
determined to frustrate United’s transfer plans by keeping Berbatov
from their grasp.
Spurs are demanding over ₤30million for the man they bought from
Bayer Leverkusen for under ₤11million during the same summer
Carrick left for Old Trafford.
And while the Red Devils are moaning about Real Madrid’s tapping-up
of Cristiano Ronaldo, it would seem the Lilywhites are keen to
remind the North-West giants about their own transfer
policies.
A source close to the matter said: “United did to Spurs what Real
Madrid are currently doing over Cristiano Ronaldo by forcing the
club's hand.”
Problem
Berbatov’s 46 goals in two seasons has marked him as one of the
Premier League’s most bankable forwards, and his strike partnership
with Robbie Keane as one of England’s best.
But the Bulgarian is reputedly desperate for Champions League
football, and that leaves only United as one-time suitors Barcelona
have diverted their attention elsewhere.
The source continued: “[Berbatov] definitely wants to leave but
Spurs do not want to sell to United because of Michael Carrick. So,
the problem is the price. But the other thing for Spurs is that no
other big club is interested.”
Different
Spurs have denied any grudge against United, however, and a club
director has insisted the circumstances surrounding Berbatov and
Wallsend-born Carrick are incomparable.
“Michael Carrick was a different situation,” said the director. “He
had a year left on his contract and wanted to move his family
closer to home.
“Dimitar Berbatov has two years left on his contract with an option
of a further two years, which is our option. It's not in our
interest to sell, especially to another Premier League club,
whichever one it might be.”