Alex Ferguson says he would fully understand if Dimitar Berbatov decided to leave Old Trafford this summer. The Bulgarian found life difficult last season at Manchester United after making most of his appearnces as a substitute although finishing joint top-scorer in the Premier League.
Berbatov’s biggest blow came in May when he did not even make the bench for United’s UEFA Champions League final meeting with Barcelona at Wembley. Due to the blistering form of the Mexican striker, Ferguson was forced to keep Chicharito in the starting eleven.
With United having six strikers for next season, competition for places will be strong.
The Scot has also insisted that his strikers need to get used to playing in squad rotation system as United look to retain their Premier League crown and Fergie feels this might not be enough to keep hold of Berbatov.
He said: “I’d understand that (if he wanted to leave) but you could say that about them all.
“I don’t pick the same team every week do I? I’ve only done that once in the last three years.
“So they all understand it’s the squad that wins the games, wins the cups and I’ve got a good squad that will be used in exactly the same way.
“They’ve got to understand that now and they all do.”
Ferguson admits he had little choice but to start with striker Hernandez last season after the Mexican burst into United’s first-team in outstanding form.
He added: “The situation was straightforward. Chicharito hit such good form that you had to put him in every game, because he added so much in terms of threatening defenders all the time.
“It was just unfortunate for Berbatov. It didn’t make him a bad player; he was just an unlucky player in that this lad came in. But that’s football.
“But Dimitar, he’s been brilliant, first class. His training has been terrific and he’s a good type of person. A nice guy.”
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