Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 20:07 / Updated on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 20:09
Former Manchester United and Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov (44) recalled a “terrifying” episode early in his career in Bulgaria when he believed he was being kidnapped by a rival club and feared violence if he refused to sign the contract.
The situation was resolved without violence, but the incident, which happened when he was 18, made him realize he needed to “grow up fast”.
Berbatov was taken by a teammate to a forced meeting
Speaking on the 'Rio Ferdinand Presents' podcast, Berbatov recalled his time as a promising youngster at CSKA Sofia. One day, after a training session, a teammate took him to a meeting with the leader of another club.
“I was starting to show my qualities on the pitch. Usually, when a player stands out, clubs make offers, ask about the contract, the price. But in my country it was different. It was more like: 'That one over there? Okay, bring him here,'” he explained.
“After practice, I didn't have a car. A teammate said, 'Come with me, I have to take you to a friend of mine.'
I was a bit naive, I trusted him because we played in the same team. I got in the car and went to a restaurant. A lone guy was sitting at a table.
At three other tables, there were some huge guys, some “closets”, the typical Balkan men, sitting behind him, looking scary,” Berbatov said.
“The guy who took me there said, 'Go there, sit down, see you later.' The other man said, “Come here, sit down.” I sat down and thought, “What's going on? I have to call Dad.” The man began to speak: “You know what I call me? I call myself chef,” the Bulgarian continued, according to A Bola.
The former attacker feared that if he had refused the man's request, he could have been assaulted or worse.
“We know who you are. We want you to switch teams. We want you on our team.” I answered: “Yes, but I play at CSKA Sofia and I like it there.”
He retorted, “We'll take care of it. Don't worry.” The other guys were still sitting and I was intimidated, thinking I had to call my dad. I stayed there for about two or three hours, and at the end he allowed me to call my father.
“I was talking really fast to dad and he was like, 'Calm down, breathe.'
And me: “What the hell? They're going to kidnap me and I don't want to go, I want to go home.”
He replied, “Okay, okay. Let me see what I can do. I'll call the guy.” Finally, someone made a call, and the “bosses” of the two teams reached an agreement for me not to leave, to stay where I was,” he said.
“In that situation, at 18, knowing how things worked in Bulgaria at the time, I thought, 'This is the end of me. I have to say yes, or maybe I'll fight, I don't know.'
But dad showed up, took me in the car and I felt a huge relief. That made me realize that I had to grow up fast and become a man very early,” concluded Berbatov.
What followed in the career of the Bulgarian
The episode took place in the late 1990s. Berbatov would leave CSKA Sofia in 2001 when Bayer Leverkusen transferred him for just over a million euros. After a low-key start in Germany, the striker established himself, reaching the Champions League final in his first full season and becoming a prolific goalscorer.
In 2006, he moved to Tottenham and two years later signed for Manchester United for around €35 million, a club record fee at the time.
