Tottenham Hotpurs' Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov's absence from the club's presentation of its new kit for next season was the latest sign he was on his way out of the club, UK newspaper Daily Mail said on May 7.
According to Daily Mail, Berbatov was “conspicuous by his absence”, the newspaper said. The club's decision to have vice-captain Robbie Keane, defender Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Jermaine Jenas to present the new kit “[added] to the widely held belief that Berbatov's days at White Hart Lane are numbered given he is arguably Tottenham's most marketable player.”
Its sister paper Metro ran a similar piece, saying “Dimitar Berbatov was notable by his absence at the launch of Tottenham's new kit (…), fuelling speculation he will leave White Hart Lane in the summer.”
Daily Mail believes Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid would all put in bids for Berbatov. “AC Milan have launched their bid to beat Barcelona and Real Madrid to the signing of Dimitar Berbatov and are understood to have told Tottenham they are ready to start negotiations for the striker,” the newspaper said. World champions Milan would focus on Berbatov after losing hope to buy Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba.
Tottenham had already privately resigned themselves to the idea that Berbatov would not be at the club next season and were looking to sell him abroad to the highest bidder. Still, the club would prefer Barcelona hoping that they could use Berbatov “as bait to sign Samuel Eto’o”, Daiy Mail said.
Tottenham paid £10.9 million in 2006 and the team wanted to receive at least £20 million, making a sizeable profit even if the Bulgarian's wages are factored in. The club's starting price tag, which it slapped on Berbatov when Chelsea were rumoured to be sniffing around, was £30 million.
With Spurs only securing a UEFA Cup spot for next season by winning the League Cup and finishing in the bottom half of the Premiership table, it failed to match the striker's ambitions, who was “desperate to play in [the Champions League,] Europe's premier club competition,” the newspaper said.
