Fiorentina Thank Berbatov He Did Not Join

Dimitar Berbatov of Fulham (R) celebrates with Fulham's manager Martin Jol (L). EPA/BGNES

Italian football club Fiorentina are happy that Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov chose not to join them, leaving them the chance to chose a more worthy player.

"Berbatov? I suppose I have to thank him, because with his rejection he allowed us to bring Luca Toni to Florence," said Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle.

Veteran Luca Toni is making a brilliant season for his side, with 6 goals from 10 games.

The former Italian national football team world champion joined Fiorentina after Berbatov made a spectacular and controversial last-minute rejection of the Italian team's invitation end of August.

On his way to signing the contract in Florence, the Bulgarian changed his mind and opted to choose UK's Fulham, for which he now plays.