Tottenham signs Dimitar Berbatov for £10.9 million
Tottenham's decision to sign £10.9million Bulgaria international Dimitar Berbatov appears likely to herald the departure from White Hart Lane of Egyptian striker Mido following an 18-month loan.
Spurs, who announced a new £34million sponsorship deal from internet casino group Mansion earlier this week, have agreed to splash out nearly a third of that amount to land the free-scoring Berbatov from German club Bayer Leverkusen, although he still needs to obtain a work permit.
The signing, which was announced on the Stock Exchange, will be completed on July 1 when Mido's loan from Italian club Roma runs out but there is no sign yet of any agreement between Spurs and the muscular target man over a permanent deal.
Berbatov, at 6ft 2ins, is a similar build to Mido and was the second highest scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 21 goals in 34 games. He has agreed personal terms at Spurs, reportedly worth £48,000 a week.
He said: 'Tottenham are a club building something special. The squad has some terrific young players, an excellent manager and coaching staff and I am looking forward to playing my part.'
Berbatov continued on Sky Sports News: 'I looked at the team, the players and the coach Martin Jol is very good and that is the most important thing to me - the coach being good with the player.
'And I've seen the games. From year to year Tottenham are getting better and better and when I get here I hope we can play in the Champions League next year.'
Berbatov also revealed he had been monitored for some time by the north London club.
'They looked at me in many games. Tottenham were the club who stood by me for six months and they wanted to buy me.
'This is important to me when somebody wants you and Martin Jol said `I know you can do good here, you can do well here.'
'I will try my best. Tottenham are trying to do something special and I want to be part of this club.'
Berbatov has also had a prolific international career, scoring 31 goals in 50 senior internationals, and has been voted Bulgarian player of the year for the past four years.
However, he is coming to Tottenham against the advice of Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport who believes he should be joining 'a top club.'
Former German international striker Voller said: 'He should play another year for us and wait for an offer from a top club. I have nothing against Tottenham but a player should wait a bit until he gets an offer from a top three club.
'But Tottenham are ready to pay the fee and so it is up to Dimitar.'
Tottenham were one of the busiest in last summer's European transfer market and Berbatov's arrival will not be the last for Jol.
With veteran Edgar Davids another possible departure after just one season and Jermain Defoe's future uncertain following interest from Liverpool, Jol needs another midfielder and striker as well as cover in defence to cope with the extra demands of the UEFA Cup.
Mido, who scored twice on his Spurs debut against Portsmouth in February last year, notched 11 goals in 23 starts for Tottenham last term and terrorised defences with his strength in the air - a perfect foil for wingers Aaron Lennon and Wayne Routledge.
But after returning from the African Nations Cup where he spearheaded the hosts' triumph despite a series of disciplinary clashes, he missed the vital last few weeks of the season with groin and knee injuries.
Spurs are already Mido's eighth professional club at the age of 23 while Berbatov has been with Leverkusen for the last five years.
Berbatov made his debut for CSKA Sofia at 18 but he started to make his name the following season when he scored 14 goals in 27 league games.
A run of nine goals in 11 games in 2000-01 was enough to persuade Leverkusen to sign Berbatov in June 2001 and he appeared in the Champions League final against Real Madrid at the end of that season.
He was still only 18 when he made his international debut in November 1999 and scored with his first touch in a competitive game, a World Cup qualifier against Denmark, a year later.
Liverpool and Valencia made inquiries about him last summer but the Anfield club settled instead on £7million Peter Crouch.
Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli said: 'There were a number of clubs interested in signing Dimitar, clubs from France, Spain and the Premiership. We are delighted he has chosen to join us.
'He is not only a player with a proven track record for being able to finish but also for creating scoring opportunities for team-mates.'
Spurs, who announced a new £34million sponsorship deal from internet casino group Mansion earlier this week, have agreed to splash out nearly a third of that amount to land the free-scoring Berbatov from German club Bayer Leverkusen, although he still needs to obtain a work permit.
The signing, which was announced on the Stock Exchange, will be completed on July 1 when Mido's loan from Italian club Roma runs out but there is no sign yet of any agreement between Spurs and the muscular target man over a permanent deal.
Berbatov, at 6ft 2ins, is a similar build to Mido and was the second highest scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 21 goals in 34 games. He has agreed personal terms at Spurs, reportedly worth £48,000 a week.
He said: 'Tottenham are a club building something special. The squad has some terrific young players, an excellent manager and coaching staff and I am looking forward to playing my part.'
Berbatov continued on Sky Sports News: 'I looked at the team, the players and the coach Martin Jol is very good and that is the most important thing to me - the coach being good with the player.
'And I've seen the games. From year to year Tottenham are getting better and better and when I get here I hope we can play in the Champions League next year.'
Berbatov also revealed he had been monitored for some time by the north London club.
'They looked at me in many games. Tottenham were the club who stood by me for six months and they wanted to buy me.
'This is important to me when somebody wants you and Martin Jol said `I know you can do good here, you can do well here.'
'I will try my best. Tottenham are trying to do something special and I want to be part of this club.'
Berbatov has also had a prolific international career, scoring 31 goals in 50 senior internationals, and has been voted Bulgarian player of the year for the past four years.
However, he is coming to Tottenham against the advice of Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport who believes he should be joining 'a top club.'
Former German international striker Voller said: 'He should play another year for us and wait for an offer from a top club. I have nothing against Tottenham but a player should wait a bit until he gets an offer from a top three club.
'But Tottenham are ready to pay the fee and so it is up to Dimitar.'
Tottenham were one of the busiest in last summer's European transfer market and Berbatov's arrival will not be the last for Jol.
With veteran Edgar Davids another possible departure after just one season and Jermain Defoe's future uncertain following interest from Liverpool, Jol needs another midfielder and striker as well as cover in defence to cope with the extra demands of the UEFA Cup.
Mido, who scored twice on his Spurs debut against Portsmouth in February last year, notched 11 goals in 23 starts for Tottenham last term and terrorised defences with his strength in the air - a perfect foil for wingers Aaron Lennon and Wayne Routledge.
But after returning from the African Nations Cup where he spearheaded the hosts' triumph despite a series of disciplinary clashes, he missed the vital last few weeks of the season with groin and knee injuries.
Spurs are already Mido's eighth professional club at the age of 23 while Berbatov has been with Leverkusen for the last five years.
Berbatov made his debut for CSKA Sofia at 18 but he started to make his name the following season when he scored 14 goals in 27 league games.
A run of nine goals in 11 games in 2000-01 was enough to persuade Leverkusen to sign Berbatov in June 2001 and he appeared in the Champions League final against Real Madrid at the end of that season.
He was still only 18 when he made his international debut in November 1999 and scored with his first touch in a competitive game, a World Cup qualifier against Denmark, a year later.
Liverpool and Valencia made inquiries about him last summer but the Anfield club settled instead on £7million Peter Crouch.
Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli said: 'There were a number of clubs interested in signing Dimitar, clubs from France, Spain and the Premiership. We are delighted he has chosen to join us.
'He is not only a player with a proven track record for being able to finish but also for creating scoring opportunities for team-mates.'
posted by dgarden at 1:32 pm
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