Jamie O’Hara has recalled the time Dimitar Berbatov proved just how talented he was while playing for Tottenham.
Discussing some of his former team-mates on talkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast, the ex-Spurs midfielder was quizzed about Berbatov, who spent two years with the Lilywhites and scored 46 goals.
Known for his languid approach to football and stylish off-pitch demeanour – he once revealed he only puts cigarettes in his mouth to look cooler, rather than to actually smoke – Berbatov can also be called ‘arrogant’, O’Hara says.
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“I was never a big fan of him,” revealed O’Hara. “He was a fantastic player, but he never said hello to anyone in the morning or shook anyone’s hand.
“He was so arrogant.”
But maybe you are allowed to be arrogant when you are as talented as Berbatov.
It’s fair to say O’Hara was stunned by the forward’s brilliance whilst training alongside him.
He continued: “We were training once when I was a young kid, and I was really busy getting around and flying into tackles. We were playing five-a-side and he was on my team.
“I’m screaming at him having made an overlap, but he can’t see me as he’s got the ball but he’s not facing the play.
“I’m screaming, ‘Berba, Berba! Give it to me! Give me the ball!’
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“And out of nowhere he hits one, outside of the boot, left foot, over about four players’ heads, straight to me.
“I was like, ‘how did he even see me?’
“He then came up to me, put his arm around me and said: ‘Hey, you don’t need to call my name… I see you’.
“Then he walked off!”
After two years of wowing crowds at White Hart Lane, Man United came calling and Berbatov moved to Old Trafford for just over £30million.
He spent four seasons in the north west and won two Premier League titles, before moving to Fulham and then abroad for the final years of his career.
Bulgaria, who Berbatov played 78 times for and scored 48 goals, are in town to play England on Saturday and it’s live on talkSPORT at 5pm
Bulgaria legend Stoichkov, who once ‘slaughtered’ Man United, still has a drink every year to celebrate Wembley triumph
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