The subject of scrutiny from amateur body-language experts nationwide, Berbatov's aloof manner is wrongly seen as 'laziness'
Averaging a goal every other game throughout a career that began at CSKA Sofia and took in Bayer Leverkusen on the way to White Hart Lane, Berbatov is acknowledged by a plethora of pundits, including Alan Hansen, Andy Gray and Mark Lawrenson, as having the “best first touch in the Premier League”.
Allied to his featherlight control is a shrewd football brain, a thoughtful appreciation of team-mates, a fierce shot and towering ability in the air.
During his first two seasons at White Hart Lane, the Bulgarian grabbed 46 goals and 22 assists and his strike-rate at international level is just as impressive.
His elusive talents were summed up by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who said: “He always turns up in a position you don’t want him to be.”
Once a cult hero among Spurs fans, the relationship was soured when Berbatov angled for a move in the summer of 2008, eventually getting his way with a protracted £30.75 million move to Manchester United in the dying seconds of the summer transfer window.