I was on my way to Man United when City tried to sign me – I told my agent to f*** off

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Dimitar Berbatov told his agent to “f*** off” after being told of Manchester City’s attempts to hijack his move to Manchester United.

The retired Bulgarian striker, 43, moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford for a transfer fee of £30.75m in 2008, while Fraizer Campbell went the opposite way on loan.

Yet, just hours before his deal was finalised, Spurs accepted a bid from City. City - who take on the Red Devils in the Manchester Derby today (Sunday) - had finished two places above Spurs in the previous 2007/08 season but a whopping 32 points behind their neighbours and Premier League champions, United. READ MORE: 'Battle of no confidence' - Rio Ferdinand makes Man City vs Manchester United derby prediction READ MORE: Paul Pogba gets honest Manchester United transfer answer after return 'offer' Berbatov was not even prepared to hear his agent out, let alone speak directly to at-the-time City manager Mark Hughes, over a move to the Blue side of Manchester. “They wanted to sign me on the last day of the market,” Berbatov told The Telegraph this year. “I told my agent: ‘F*** off, we're going to United’.

Because of the history, the prestige, the players, the manager, the shirt. I never had any doubt that Old Trafford was the right decision.” Legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson met the striker at Manchester airport.