At a cost of just over $20 million, Dimitar Berbatov may have already proven to be best buy in Europe this season. The Guardian’s Rob Smyth writes a glowing panegyric to Tottenham’s lanky Bulgarian striker, who punctuated a magnificent first season this past week with man-of-the-match performances against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Braga in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday.
Berbatov hasn’t merely scored seven goals in seven games (and 19 in 33 starts); he’s scored brilliant goals, Thierry Henry-like goals, while playing a crucial hand in several others for Spurs. Against Braga, Berbatov bagged the game’s first two goals-one a deft flick into the far corner with the outside of the right foot, the other a fiercely dispatched volley into the roof of the net-before slicing open its defense with a pass that set up Steed Malbranque for Tottenham’s tie-winning goal.
Smyth says that performance was a microcosm of what Berbatov is all about: he’s a deadly two-footed finisher blessed with the skills and the sensibility of a playmaker, who’s both quick on the ball and good in the air. Indeed, foot speed may be the only attribute he lacks. Smyth likens him to Arsenal’s Henry at his peak, proclaiming: “Right here, right now [Berbatov] is the Premiership’s best player.” The 26 year-old Bulgarian is certainly at the height of his powers, and he still has several years left in him. One wonders how long Tottenham will be able to keep him?