‘Sir Alex Ferguson broke his Liverpool promise to me after I signed for Man Utd’

Dimitar Berbatov was promised a week's break by Sir Alex Ferguson when he joined Manchester United but a date with Liverpool was too important to miss.

The silky, nonchalant Bulgarian made the move to Old Trafford in 2008, completing his £30.75 million deal on deadline day. He would become a new part of the Red Devils' bid for a third consecutive Premier League title.

With their bitter rivals Reds on 18 league titles and United's recent successes under Ferguson taking that tally to 17, another top-flight crown in that period would have taken the bragging rights to a new level – and the manager knew this.

With Berbatov's deal being completed so late, the Scottish icon promised to give him some time off before leaving the starting box. But after winning two and drawing one of their first three games, a crucial trip to Anfield beckoned, and the new recruit simply had to be called upon.

“Sir Alex was with me when we completed the handover, and it was so last minute, so worrying that it happened so late, that he said, 'Berba, I know it's stressful what you're going through, but… “When we're done with this, I promise you'll get a week's break so you can get back together,” Berbatov said on United's website.

“'Okay, that works.' As soon as I signed, it was, 'Okay, get ready.' In my head I'm thinking, where's my week long break?!

“But that was all fine. As the match got closer, I felt the excitement, the nerves, the tension. You start to get more and more knowledge about the rivalry and the history between the two clubs.”

“The expectation to win the match, to perform, that's important. This all builds until on the day of the match I stepped onto the field for the first time… and it was something new.”

Berbatov was thrown into the starting line-up, teaming up with Carlos Tevez up front, and it didn't take long for the duo to come into prominence. Just three minutes into the battle, the now 43-year-old put Tevez ahead for the opener, and Ferguson's men had taken an early lead.

However, this initial joy was short-lived. A Wes Brown own goal 24 minutes later leveled the score, and 13 minutes from time Ryan Babel claimed all three points for the home fans.

Yet Berbatov and United would have the last laugh. Even with Liverpool at the top of the table in the new year, Ferguson's side would win their eighteenth league title, moving their rivals four points clear of the trophy and bragging rights to Manchester with three points.