The Reds' chase for Tottenham's 27-year-old Bulgarian striker has erupted into a war of words between Old Trafford and White Hart Lane.
The row began innocuously as United left for South Africa last Thursday at Manchester Airport when Fergie claimed the Reds were pursuing a transfer target but didn't name the player.
"We have made a bid for one player who would enhance us a great deal," said Ferguson before flying to Cape Town.
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By the time he had landed in South Africa on Friday, a newspaper was carrying further quotes attributed to the United boss.
"We have made Tottenham an offer on Berbatov and we have good expectations that this deal will go through," Sir Alex had allegedly said.
"Berbatov would be a great addition to our attack. I think time will work for us more than against us. We will not stress this situation.
"We are hoping to have a constructive conversation with Tottenham in the near future."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was outraged and an outburst on Friday saw him accuse Fergie of arrogance and hypocrisy and the tap-up row gathered momentum.
Furious
While the Reds have been furious over Real Madrid's conduct in the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga, Levy claimed the European champions were acting in a similar manner in the Berbatov chase.
"It is one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League," he said. "As a result we have made an official complaint about the conduct of Manchester United.
"Comments made by their manager announcing he is confident a deal will go through is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players."
A Tottenham spokesman added: "We have confirmed the comments came from Sir Alex talking at a supporters' meeting. Our evidence will be submitted to the Premier League and checked by our lawyers. We would not have said what we have said without substantial evidence.
"And it is worth asking Alex Ferguson if he is happy to confirm that at no point has anyone from Old Trafford ever spoken to the player or his agent given that Tottenham has never given permission."
But in South Africa Fergie was adamant he had never named Berbatov and threatened legal action against Spurs.
"I don't know where they got those quotes from but it wasn't from me. The complaint appears to be on the basis of a story in a paper."
Fergie had an interview with United's Scandinavian Supporters' Club branch last week but the Reds have checked the tape and there is nothing untoward in the transcript. The Reds remain puzzled but nevertheless those words infuriated Tottenham and the situation exploded into all-out war. Asked about potential legal action, Fergie added: "I'm sure our legal people will be looking at it." Back in Manchester, United's lawyers are expected to start putting together the Reds case when they have received a letter from the Premier League.
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Billiospur, torquay (21/07/2008 at 09:31)
for Ronaldo and Real madrids behaviour after your complaint was reported etc..........and because of Fergies Hypocrisy
as you have acted the same way as Real madrid re Berbatov! you are subject to the same rules and penalties........
as are liverpool......levy is right in protecting his asset for the club as you are......im afraid fergie and co arrogance has been caught out.....tap.tap....tap
as your 1st offer was rejected
use the media ?
all in all unsettling, bad protocols and against the rules and illegal.
poor show Sir Alex ,better to have said nothing...
Billiospur fan
Red Rob, Fifth Quadrant (21/07/2008 at 09:46)
That would call Tottenham's bluff - after all, aren't they supposed to be buying players left, right and centre and will need the cash from somewhere. I felt the caveat towards the end of Daniel Levy's statement was quite revealing.
And it's rich Levy getting all precious about scruples, Spurs themselves having been the very model of dignity and discretion in their pursuit of Juande Ramos and disposal of Martin Jol.
Should this bring an end to the Berbatov-for-United speculation, we could do worse than turning out thoughts back to Benzema of Lyon, who looks a better long-term prospect. If that means being patient, then so be it.
Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (21/07/2008 at 09:46)
Chris,, Ireland (21/07/2008 at 11:31)
SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (21/07/2008 at 12:07)
Real Madrid have NEVER made a bid to buy Ronaldo, United on the other hand made an OPENING OFFER of an estimated £18m. This is how all transfers should start but Real Madrid haven't made any offer so how can you insist that this is the same thing!!!
Then you try and pin a single so-called "quote" from SAF on Berbatov and Spurs even though this quote has been rubbished by SAF and indeed the AUTHENTIC quote made by SAF never mentions either player or club. Real Madrid have been using both of their own newspapers (AS and Marca) as well as everyone from Calderon to Schuster to Blatter to bring out quote after quote that our player Ronaldo wants to join them and should be allowed to do so otherwise he's just a slave. Where exactly is the comparision there mate?
Lastly and most importantly if Spurs don't want to sell Berbatov to United then thats fine, turn the offer down flat and be clear that Berbatov is NOT for sale. Its that simple yet your own chairman comes out barking like a mad dog at SAF then finishes by saying that he'll probably have to do business now cause the players head has been turned. Utter rubbish mate, SAF has stated Ronaldo is NOT for sale, Gill has stated Ronaldo is NOT for Sale and the Glazers have stated that Ronaldo is NOT for sale. No if's or buts, no worries if Ronaldo's head has been turned just a simple "NOT FOR SALE" every single time. Not much of a comparision there either mate, is there?!!
Then again I suppose it makes sense when you realise that Levy's the one who's trying to increase the transfer fee he wants by using the media while throwing the blame at SAF and trying to appease you Spurs fans but the fact of the matter is if Berbatov wasn't for sale then Levy would have said that. Personally I would like to see Berbatov at United but not for crazy money. If Spurs don't want to sell then simply contact United and tell them so and United will move on to their next transfer target and Spurs can keep him. Thing is though Levy hasn't done that at all has he?!! Nope he's left the down open for United to increase their offer and to do business because it suits Spurs as much as it does United and Berbatov.
APPLES AND ORANGES MATE!!!
Support the Team and Live the Dream.....
Utd4Ever (21/07/2008 at 12:15)
chunkey76, london (21/07/2008 at 12:26)
Sonny Cheema (21/07/2008 at 12:38)
So if Real came in and actually Bid for Ronaldo, again what would the difference be between Utd going for Berba and Real going for Roanldo. NOTHING.
Hypocrisy at its best. Utd have been doing this for years and when someone does it to them they throw their dummy out ans start crying to fifa saying "sumwon is after r bestest pwayer" NOT FAIR NOT FAIR.
Get a grip and get real, what goes around comes around.
Oh MUEN have you heard of the freedom of speech .. print this instead of editing and not allowing as usual ..
squirebrown, manchester (21/07/2008 at 13:01)
better off red (21/07/2008 at 13:06)
according to ramos: "There are many rumours, but the majority are not true. We have a clear idea who we want and what other people say is not our problem. Since I came here we have been linked with 40 players and none have come,"
so the same stuff happens to spurs as happens to every other club.
Should all the clubs spurs are linked with, report spurs to the FA also?
grow up levy.
Johnny The Truthful One Smith (21/07/2008 at 13:09)
Since66, Amersham (21/07/2008 at 13:25)
On the other hand, where is the line between 'good' and 'evil' in this area? If a journo asks Fergie "Do you think Berba is a great player" and Fergie says "Yes" there's an obvious conclusion to be drawn. Is that tapping up? Even if an offer isn't in Fergie's mind at the time, Berba reads the soundbite and thinks "Hmmm, United would be nicer than Tottingham.." and all of a sudden his head is turned.
Talking directly to the player / agent without his club's knowledge and agreement is tapping up. The rest is unavoidable in this day and age and isn't.
The only exception to that is Marca's daily feed on Ronaldo and Real, which is just paper talk if it has no Real Madrid official comments and if Marca has no official or under the counter relationship with Real. Ahem, I think I'm getting long-winded....
Bryan83, Chorlton (21/07/2008 at 13:49)
Roy (21/07/2008 at 13:54)
There has almost been no tranfers of note except for Chelsea. Maybe it needs a monster transfer from them to inject some cash in the system.
Liverpool have improved their team and a Keane will certainly help. Arsenal fans must be worried that all their best youngsters are targets. This is another reason why a Berbatov is a good idea - it is not always wise to buy only youngsters and nurture them.
The only team that worry me are Chelsea. I think they will spend with abandon like they did the first year of Jose.
And I agree with Rio - the Ronaldo affair has put a damper on Utd's glorious achievements last season. Ronny will either knuckle down or continue to throw his toys out of the pram. But such actions demean football.
One reason the transfer market is so dull is because money worldwide is tight. Do footballers realise they are on another planet to fans. Maybe Ronaldo should read Nobby Stiles' autobiography to realise how lucky he is in terms of reward compared to Utd's greats only one two generations ago.
PS Pele and Lippi are right about Rooney. Excellent drive but he has lost his edge. Maybe the new no.2 will be the spark he needs, maybe Berbatov.
mufc4eva, champions (21/07/2008 at 14:22)
Next you will think that viz and zit are real.
God man fergie has said nothing,he mearly said we are looking at (A)player no names mentioned,thats why he said spurs are going to look very silly.
I cant wait.
PMSL
warlock, Toronto (21/07/2008 at 14:30)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (21/07/2008 at 14:49)
Chris,, Ireland (21/07/2008 at 15:44)
Ramos on the other hand has said a few times that Berbatov and Keane may be sold. If he came out and said he wasn't for sale, fair enough, but he hasn't said that! Therefore United have put in a bid, which Madrid STILL haven't done. Ferguson didn't mention Berbatov either in any interviews. Levy believed what he read in the papers, and will look very foolish when the truth comes out and when United prove (they have the evidence) that at no time did Ferguson mention Berbatov. Like I said in the beginning, pathetic post.
Sonny Cheema (21/07/2008 at 16:20)
Look at the facts again. Utd have been tapping up Berba for a long time now. Since January. Real have been tapping up Ronaldo since just before the season ended.
Real have not put a bid, but if they did as you guys have allegedly, then what is the difference.
The point is neither party in both transfers have given permission to either club to hold talks with the player in question. Spurs re Berba. Utd re Ronlado. Therefore agaisnt the rules and is considered tapping up.
Just because it has been differently doesn't mean it is anything less. Utd have just done it in a way so they look like they mean business, If a club comes in forany player .. say for example you come in and put in a bid for Micah Richards without the clubs consent or having spoken to the player, what would you construe that as. Its plain and simple .. TAPPING UP .. It gets the players interest up leading to a transfer request being handed in.
So get your facts right and read into what is going on. Your club has been doing it for years and now because they created such a storm over Ronaldo other clubs are coming out and making a stance against you.
CaptainPark (21/07/2008 at 18:22)
CaptainPark (21/07/2008 at 18:28)
bobbydazzler (21/07/2008 at 18:31)
A Mancunian, Manchester (21/07/2008 at 18:42)
John Briscoe (21/07/2008 at 19:01)
After Calderon's comments today, anyone who can still compare the Berbatov and Ronaldo case with a straight face must seriously have a problem.
Chris,, Ireland (21/07/2008 at 19:16)