Law unimpressed while Berbatov calls time on Bulgaria

MANCHESTER UNITED forward Dimitar Berbatov has failed to live up to the reputation he made for himself at Tottenham, according to the Red Devils’ legendary striker Denis Law.

The Bulgaria international has scored just 26 goals in two seasons and his performances have been widely criticised since his £30.75million move from White Hart Lane in August 2008.

“I don’t want to knock him. He hasn’t come up to the standard he set at Spurs, but when he was there he looked an extremely good player,” said the Scot, who scored 237 goals in 404 United appearances.

“He’s always had that laid-back style, even when he was at Tottenham, and that’s what the fans admired him for but now he gets criticised for it.”

Law said he hoped Berbatov did not turn out to be another expensive misfit like £28m midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who joined from Lazio in 1999 but lasted just two years at Old Trafford.

“He looked an excellent player with Argentina and in Italy, but when he came to United he didn’t do it,” Law said.

Meanwhile Berbatov, who made 74 appearances for Bulgaria and scored a record 48 goals, has announced his retirement from international football.

However, his performances in the team’s failed World Cup qualifying campaign drew widespread criticism in his homeland.

Speaking at a press conference in Sofia, he said: “I came to the decision that as of now I have retired from the national team.

“Everything has a beginning and an end and that is today.”