Ferguson: Berbatov Has Years Left at Highest Level

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, who will leave Manchester United during the summer, has received a ringing tribute from Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 31-year-old Bulgaria striker, signed from Tottenham for GBP 30 M on transfer deadline day nearly four years ago, is unhappy because he cannot be guaranteed a first-team place at Old Trafford.

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and his former club, Bayer Leverkusen, are ready to fight for his signature, the Daily Mail reported Sunday.

"Berba is a top, top player who has years left at the highest level," Ferguson is quoted as saying.

The Daily Mail points out that memorable among his four Premier League hat-tricks, the last coming against Wigan on Boxing Day last year, was when he became the first non- Englishman to score five goals in a league match, in the 7-1 defeat of Blackburn in November 2010 - the season he shared the Golden Boot with Carlos Tevez.

But the Bulgarian, since being left out of Sir Alex's squad for last year's European Cup final - which United lost 3-1 to Barcelona - has made only spasmodic first-team appearances, mainly off the bench. Ferguson has preferred the likes of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez partnering Wayne Rooney, the paper says.

"The boss is very reluctant to lose a player of Berbatov's calibre - but he recognizes he cannot offer him first-team football every week," said a United source.

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