One of the biggest talking points to come out of Man United's 1-0 win over Liverpool was whether or not the penalty should have been awarded.

Dimitar Berbatov was caught in the penalty area by defender Daniel Agger, after just 35 seconds. Ryan Giggs scored the penalty, which was the winning goal.

The decision to award a penalty has lead to rival fans to accuse referee Howard Webb of being a Man United fan and to label Berbatov as a diver.

Speaking after the game, Berbatov backed Webb and told ITV1: "Of course it was a penalty. There was enough contact for me to lose my balance and people know I do not go to ground easily."


Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed the striker by saying:

"It was a penalty"

"Dimitar says he was definitely clipped. The replay shows he slightly touched him but the momentum is enough to bring the player down.

"There is no reason for him to go down anyway. He is not that kind of player.

"He is on the by-line, he is in the penalty box. I think it was right.

With the January transfer window only days away from opening, Dimitar Berbatov has been linked with a move to clubs such as Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce and Juventus but the striker has said that he would rather retire from football than leave the club.

During his acceptance his acceptance speech, after being awarded Bulgaria's footballer of the year for the seventh time, Berbatov said: "I fought to have a chance to play for United and now I can only go down if I leave. Why I should do this? It would be better to retire."

The Bulgarian has played 18 games this season for United, scoring 12 goals. Five of which came in United's 7-1 win over Blackburn last month and he did score three against Liverpool earlier on in the season.

Man United striker Dimitar Berbatov yesterday retired from International football, he has also stated that he will be staying at Manchester United.

Since joining United in September 2008, it’s fair to say that the Bulgarian hasn’t been in the best of form, he’s been frustrating and is a striker lacking confidence.

Berbatov has been the captain of Bulgaria for the past three years, not only has he had criticism from United fans but he has also been widely criticised by the Bulgarian press.

"I am withdrawing from the Bulgarian national team, it was a difficult decision but I made it," Berba has been quoted as saying.

"Sometimes you have to make the difficult ones. I though about it enough, but everything has a beginning and an end and that is today."

Not only has the 29 year-old announced that he’s retiring from International football but he has tried to put an end to rumours linking him with a move away from Old Trafford.

Berbatov currently has two years left on his contract and he is expecting to play out that contract, that is assuming that Sir Alex Ferguson hasn’t had enough and decided to get rid of him.

Berbatov said: “I’m sure United will buy a new striker, but I am there and that’s important. I will try to fulfil my contract because where would I go after United? I do not know about interest from other clubs and I have had no meetings because I am a Manchester United player.

“In my two years things could have been better, but they could have been worse, too. I have had my moments. I have won the championship and the Carling Cup, but people had great expectations for the money it cost to sign me. We do not know what will happen in the third year. I do not show any emotions but I’m really happy.”

In other quotes linked with Berbatov today, he has reportedly said:

"I am going nowhere.

"I have arrived where I wanted to be, I have reached the summit."

"United is the biggest team and I will fight to stay there until the end of my contract."

Berbatov can’t help the high fee that United has paid for him but some of the misses have been awful, especially during the final few games of the 2009/10 Premier League season.

I don’t know how much more patience Sir Alex can have with him, there is only so many chances you can give a player. If he does stay and doesn’t improve next season, then I can see him being sold.

Since joining Man United in September 2008 Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov hasn’t made the impression that many were hoping.

When he first joined we all knew his style of play, he won’t run around after the ball a lot, he does look like a lazy player but he has a lot of technical ability, fantastic vision and some of his first touches are stunning.

The problem he has is that he just doesn’t fit into Man United’s style of play. United are at their best when they are attacking teams at pace but Berbatov slows that down.

On the other hand there are times when he can be incredibly frustrating to watch but seconds later, he can change the game with one moment of brilliance. He does have some good games but for the price paid for him, he doesn’t have them often enough.

United paid £30.5 million for him, which is a lot of money. Berbatov has been a disappointment for the amount paid for him, that’s what it part of it comes down to. The price tag isn’t his fault; the fee agreed for him was decided between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Berbatov was given many chances ahead of Carlos Tevez last season; even when Tevez was playing better but we haven’t seen the same amount of faith this season from Sir Alex Ferguson.

As a result, Berbatov is now being linked more and more with a move away from Old Trafford. Today it’s being reported that AC Milan are lining up a bid for him. If United do sell him, they won’t get anywhere near the price of £30.5 million paid for him.

The pace in Italy’s Serie A is a lot slower than the English Premier League so it may suit style more. They also claim that it is a lot more technical than the Premier League, which would also suit Berbatov better.

Right now he is lacking confidence and during some of the matches he has become very frustrated. He knows he’s not doing well and not performing how he should do.

 I don’t know how many more chances he’s going to get, I would love for Berbatov to prove me wrong and hit some form. I would love for him to show people that he is a fantastic player.

How many more chances will Sir Alex give him though?

Reports in today’s papers, stemming from the ever reliable ‘The Sun’ suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to sell striker Dimitar Berbatov. Ever since he made the deadline day move to Old Trafford from White Hart Lane on the 1st September 2008, Berbatov hasn’t made the impression that he would have wanted.

It is thought that Sir Alex has had enough and he is set to sell the 29-year old, even though he will get the £30 million United paid for him.

So Berbatov may possibly be on his way out and the press have wasted no time at all in naming some replacements. David Villa, Karim Benzema and Sergio Aguero have all been linked with a move to United, most of which are very unlikely to happen.

Benzema was one of United’s main transfer targets last season. He moved to Real Madrid along with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Kaka, but after a poor season at the Bernabeu he has already been linked with a move away.

Rumours a few days back suggested that Man United had been offered 28-year old David Villa by Valencia, which United turned down due to financial restrictions.

21-year old Aguero is an exciting youngster and a player who Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to be looking at. The Argentine striker will also have a high price tag, which could put United off.

United may not be looking at anyone. Last Thursday it was announced that United will sign 21-year old Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez for an undisclosed fee on the 1st July 2010, subject to a work permit.

We already have Michael Owen, who may be out injured but he has said that he will still be at Man United next season. Danny Welbeck is also out after picking up an injury whilst out on loan with Preston North End but he could play more of a part next season.

Federico Macheda has recently returned from injury, he may not have played many games since joining United but last season he did score some vital goals. 22-year old Mame Biram Diouf joined us in January 2010; he has made six appearances for the first team, scoring one goal, which was when he made his debut at Old Trafford. There is also young Joshua King, who has been doing well for the reserves and did play in the League Cup match against Wolves this season.

This could also be the press making a mountain out of a molehill. Saying that, the further into the season we have got, the more likely it has looked that Berbatov could be leaving.

Mame Biram Diouf has got his Man United career off to a fantastic start. First he bagged himself a goal during his debut at Old Trafford whilst playing for the first team. Last night he got himself a hat trick whilst playing for Man United’s reserve team.

Unfortunately for the 22-year old he had to be replaced after picking up a slight injury but he has earned praise from reserve team coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"Diouf is a young lad and he will get his chances but he is one that we have brought in for the future," Solskjaer told Telegraph Sport.
"He is a different kind of player to what we have up front. Of course, when you sign players you hope that they are going to establish themselves as first team players.
"He has fantastic potential. He is a fantastic athlete and he has a fantastic attitude plus he is a good finisher as you saw here tonight so we are very pleased for far with the start that he has made."

"I don't think I need to give him any advice because I have already got to know him a bit. I have seen him in Norway and I have spoken to him a bit and he is very down to earth and he knows what he wants." 

During Man United’s 4-0 victory over Sunderland’s reserves, Federico Macheda made his comeback from injury and Ben Foster kept a clean sheet in goal.

"It is very pleasing that he [Macheda] has come back," Solskjaer said. "He has been out for a very long time which has been difficult for him and now is the time for him to kick on and keep working hard.
"He got 20 minutes under his belt and I know it is only reserve team football but that is important to him." 

"Ben made three magnificent saves - two in the second half, one in the first. He has always been a good shot-stopper but he is maturing all the time in his overall play. His understanding of when to quicken it up and his cross-taking- everything has improved a lot."

If you believe what you read then this summer Sir Alex Ferguson will be selling £80 million worth of his squad. The Sunday Mirror believe that Sir Alex will sell Dimitar Berbatov, Luis Nani, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic and Zoran Tosic.

The Sunday mirror claim that a “United insider” said:

“The four midfield players got a lot of criticism after the Leeds [United] game, but the biggest underperformer was [Dimitar] Berbatov.

“People say he’s got a great touch, and that isn’t in doubt, but this game is also about hunger and workrate.

“To put it bluntly, Berbatov doesn’t run around enough for this United team - and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the people that matter most.”

Vidic has been linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid. Berbatov and Nani have been labelled as flops, Tosic can’t get into the team and I am surprised that Anderson was named in that list.

Most of the gossip that comes out into the public is rubbish but I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Nani left in January or in the summer. I would be surprised if Anderson and Vidic left. I am not sure about Berbatov or Tosic, Berbatov has to improve and we need to see more of Tosic to really tell if he is worthy of wearing the Man United shirt.

We may only be two games into the new Premier League season, but what is blatantly obvious is that we won’t score that many goals this season, if we carry on the way we have been.

When Man United don’t score that many goals, ever since joining, Dimitar Berbatov has been made a scapegoat. The first striker who gets the blame is Berba and I believe that is unfair. We have Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Berbatov, Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck and some other younger strikers.

There is no doubting that we haven’t seen the best out of Berbatov but Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed him to shine.

"It is his style of play rather than the effect he has on the game. He is a very good player and I am particularly happy with him," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"Dimitar would like to score a goal"
"Strikers always feel as if scoring goals is the most important thing. That is the case with him and Michael [Owen], who could also do with one.
"He should have scored two on Wednesday [against Burnley]. His movement and positional play in the final third is very good.
"We are just waiting on that one goal because it will set him off. I am sure of that."

There was a big hype over Dimitar Berbatov when he first joined Manchester United, and he hasn't got off to the best of starts at Man United but he believes that he will score more and more goals.

Berbatov spoke to MUTV and this is what he had to say, "I think I can do better this season, I think I can do more. That's why I am happy to be on the pre-season tour. It is always beneficial to start well and have a good pre-season and I feel I am training well at the moment. I am here to score goals and I hope to score more and more for United this season"

Man United supporters are definitely split when it comes to Dimitar Berbatov. Some love him and some believe he is a waste of money.

There is no doubting that he didn't have the best of seasons but I believe that he can and will get better.

We now have Berbatov, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and other youngsters who can play up front. We do have plenty of options.

Another reason why Berbatov didn't get off to the best of starts with the fans is that he was always starting ahead of Carlos Tevez who was a fans favourite. I believe that, that didn't do him any favours, Berbatov wasn't at his best but he still was put in ahead of Tevez.

What do you think? Will Berbatov improve this season?

Would Man United really offer Dimitar Berbatov plus €20m million for Sergio Aguero? That is what AS believes Man United are ready to do.
Last week Man United had a €46 million bid turned down for the player and now AS believe that United will offer Berbatov to ‘sweeten’ the deal.

AS are also reporting that this isn’t Man United’s first choice. Apparently what Man United would prefer to do is offer Luis Nani and €40 million for Aguero. That deal won’t go through because Atletico Madrid don’t need/want a wide player because they believe they have enough cover for that area already.

None of these deals are expected to go through because Atletico Madrid only want money and that has to be the amount of his buy-out clause which is €60 million.

If we did offer that amount of money, the problems wouldn’t be sorted out there. It is thought that Man United could have problems with Aguero’s wage demands, he would want €12.5m-per-year.

This is only speculation and I am sure it will carry on until we spend the £80/90 million that we have this summer or until the transfer window closes.

Would you like Aguero to come to United? Which deal would you prefer to see go through?