A manager’s time at a club is often remembered by one defining moment. For Ruud Gullit it will be that rainy night in Newcastle when he left Alan Shearer on the bench and lost 2-1 to Sunderland at St James’ Park. For Chris Hughton it will be for guiding Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first attempt, while currently, Alan Pardew might be remembered as the man who sold Andy Carroll, albeit he had little say in the matter. However, there is still time for Pardew to change his Newcastle legacy for the better, and signing Dimitar Berbatov would certainly do the trick, and it wouldn’t do any harm to Mike Ashley’s reputation either!
Before even getting into why Berbatov would be a great signing for Newcastle, as if it needs much explanation, it must be said that a move to the north-east would be very unlikely. For starters, the rumour originated in The Sun, nothing more to be said about that, and it is being reported that Newcastle are battling Tottenham for the Bulgarian’s signature. Berbatov looks certain to leave Manchester United this summer, but a return to White Hart Lane and European football would appear to be the much more attractive proposition for the striker.
Newcastle fans, like any football supporters, love to dream, though, and if Pardew could persuade Berbatov to pull on a Newcastle shirt it would definitely be the coup of the century. The 30 year old is in his peak, has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt and isn’t short of a goal or two. At £7.5 million he would be a bargain, and would leave plenty more left to sign a partner for Dimitar and strengthen the squad elsewhere.
What Newcastle do have going for them is that Berbatov was a Newcastle fan as a youngster, and you only have to ask Shearer how strong that emotional tie is. The Sun has previously reported that Dimitar used to sleep in his Shearer number nine Newcastle shirt, with his mum Maragrita quoted stating “Dimitar wore this shirt all the time. He even used to sleep in his Newcastle shirt! It’s that special to him.”
“Dimitar told me it was his dream to play for Newcastle United one day and wear the same shirt as Alan Shearer, who is my son’s hero.” An old schoolmate Mario even said “Dimitar never missed a Newcastle game when it was on television. And Shearer was up there with Pele as a God for him,” so maybe Alan could put in a good word.
So that’s the good news, along with the fact that at Newcastle Berbatov will get regular first team football, and let’s face it, the Bulgarian isn’t getting any younger and only has a handful of years at the top left. Like Shearer did but sadly Michael Owen didn’t, he has the opportunity to become a Newcastle legend that is idolised at St James’ Park.
The bad news is that Berbatov will be courted by many a big European club, and it won’t just be Spurs that Newcastle have to beat in the race for the Bulgarian’s signature. Other Premier League clubs will be interested, but of course it’s in Newcastle’s interest that Berbatov wants to stay in England, if that turns out to be the case.
Berbatov is a class act; a striker who scores and makes goals for fun, has an exceptional touch and is a joy to watch. It was as if St James’ Park was a football arena built purely for him. Sadly, I can’t see him wearing the famous black and white stripes anytime soon, but miracles do happen, and maybe Pardew can pull this one off!
