Dimitar Berbatov names the greatest XI of players he’s played with ft. Ronaldo and Rooney

Dimitar Berbatov had a career that most would be envious of. The Bulgarian went from one of the deadliest young strikers in European football at Bayer Leverkusen to a Premier League icon at Tottenham and Manchester United, where he would go on to win numerous honours.

Throughout his different footballing adventures, the 43-year-old would get to line-up alongside some of the greatest talent in the modern game – as proven by his teammate XI, which he named while appearing on Optus Sports. From multi-time Champions League winners to a former Ballon d’Or holder, there are very few sides that would have the skill and balance to compete against Berbatov’s dream team.

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Goalkeeper

Edwin van der Sar

Edwin van der Sar is perhaps one of the most underrated goalkeepers of the Premier League era. Despite joining Manchester United as an elder statesman, the Dutch giant was still an incredible shot-stopper for the next several years, winning league and European honours.

On his number one, Berbatov said: “I call him the professor because I sat next to him on the bus when we travel to games and he was always telling stories about life and players were asking him for his opinion. It was joyful to sit next to him. And on the pitch, c’mon we know how good he was. We knew we could breathe calmly if he was on the pitch. Overall, a great human being, accolades all over the place. He was unbelievable.”

Right back

Gary Neville

Despite being one of the best full-backs in the Premier League era, injuries had crept up to Gary Neville by the time his Bulgarian teammate arrived at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, his impact in training was enough for the striker to be impressed.

“He was unbelievable in training. Very professional. Hard-working on the pitch, talking on the pitch,” Berbatov said of his former captain. “And I remember him telling me ‘Berbs, I know I’m not the best in the world but work ethic? I don’t think anyone can outwork me’. Because I see the young players on the other side of the pitch and he knew someone would come for his place so he needs to work hard.”

Centre back

Nemanja Vidic

One half of one of the greatest defensive partnerships in Premier League history. No prizes for guessing who the man alongside him will be. However, for now, Berbatov gives us a moment to appreciate Nemanja Vidic. The Serbian had a tough start to life in England, but transformed into a monster as he entered his prime. Even when Berbatov was a Red Devil, he feared facing the no-nonsense defender in training.

“He was unbelievable. He’d put his head in the wall for you and the team. He’d come in after the game, a tooth missing, blood everywhere, grass in the nose. ‘Vida are you okay?’ ‘I’m fine, don’t worry.’ The same in training so you need to respect that. He was unbelievable.

“A nightmare when I was at Spurs and played United. And I’m like ‘Oh no, Vida’. You have defenders when you see them on the team sheet and you’re like ‘Oh no’. So I was happy to go to United but in the training games…”

Centre back

Rio Ferdinand

“It was between Ledley King and Rio Ferdinand,” claims the former Bayer Leverkusen star. And while he gave Spurs legend King his flowers, he relented that there was only really one choice to partner Vidic:

“I go with Rio. I was with him for four years. Won major trophies with him and I can tell you his intelligence level with him was so high. He can read the game. He can know before an attacker can turn he is already there and can take the ball. That’s why he rarely went down in slide tackles. He was already up there on his feet. He was fast, quick and intelligent. For me, these two players [Vidic and Ferdinand] complimented each other perfectly.”

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Left back

Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra loves this game, and Berbatov loved having him as his left-back. Personality wise, these two appear to be very different from one another. But the forward could only sit back and admire Evra’s physical and technical prowess:

Centre Midfield

Paul Scholes

Perhaps one of the easiest picks in the team. As soon as Berbatov is asked to pick his midfield, he reveals: “One name straight away pops up in my mind, Paul Scholes.” The Englishman is widely regarded as one of, if not the best playmaker that the Premier League has ever seen, making him impossible to ignore, as the former golden boot winner revealed:

“That guy was unbelievable. He probably didn’t get enough credit when he played because he was quiet like me. He didn’t give many interviews. He was just training, games, home. If you ask any player around the world, three players to name, one of them is going to be Paul Scholes.

“You know he has a great shot. I was always wondering how he hit the ball so good and then one day we showered together and I saw his feet and they were so wide. So there’s no chance for you to miss the ball when his feet are this wide!”

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Centre Midfield

Fabinho

While it would’ve been easy for Berbatov to just name a full team of ex-Manchester United stars, Michael Carrick arguably being the most obvious choice here, the man himself confessed that he didn’t want to be boring. So he named a player few would’ve known he had ever lined up alongside. That being former Liverpool man Fabinho.

The Brazilian shared a dressing room with Berbatov during his time at Monaco before he became a stalwart at Anfield. The striker credits himself for getting the midfielder ready for the intensity of English football:

“He was very good in training and in games, taking responsibility. He could play right back, he could play in the middle of the park. And in training sessions, because I was used to physical contact, most of the time I was smashing him with elbows and with shoulders,” Berbatov revealed. “He was on the ground and he was like ‘Berba, c’mon.’ And I’m like ‘I’m preparing you for the Premier League’ and funnily enough, years later he’s in the Premier League and one of the best players of the team in Liverpool.”

Right Wing

Cristiano Ronaldo

Although he only spent a season alongside the legendary winger, Berbatov admitted there was no way he could have a team that didn’t include Cristiano Ronaldo. Regarded as one of the best players of all time, the Portuguese international spent his most potent years on the left or down the middle, but was most prominently used on the right in his first stint at Old Trafford, which is where the Bulgarian elected to play him:

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Attacking Midfield

James Rodriguez

The only other non-Theatre of Dreams alumni to grace the team is 2014 World Cup star, James Rodriguez. The Colombian produced one of the greatest individual performances at an international tournament in Brazil, which saw him leave Monaco where he had been teaming up with Berbatov.

“I was 33 at the time and I felt a bit older with young boys running around me,” the forward explained. “James, I could see straight away with his left foot. He could find you straight away, he could put it where you want. And it happened a lot during my time there. He got the ball, and the first thing on his mind is to look forward not backward. He was unbelievable doing that.”

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Left Wing

Ryan Giggs

There’s an argument to be made that, based on his success and longevity at the highest level, Ryan Giggs is the greatest Premier League player to have ever stepped foot on an English football pitch. Whether as a terrifying wing wizard or a composed, completed midfielder, the Welshman defied age and often logic on his way to becoming United’s most capped player.

“That guy was phenomenal,” Berbatov quipped. “During the game and in the training sessions. Again, someone who can find you with a pass. Later on in his career, he adjusted his play. He wasn’t as quick but with his passion and his passing and vision. He was an example of how you can carry yourself into your 30s and 40s and play later in your career.”

Striker

Wayne Rooney

It may not have been as lethal as the trio with Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, but make no mistake, Berbatov formed a great understanding with Wayne Rooney as a front two pairing at Old Trafford. So it can be surprise that his former strike partner waxed lyrical about the English great: