By Chris Wright
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has announced his retirement from international football this morning, in a bid to concentrate on his club career.
Berbatov has drawn close to a prolific stint with the Bulgarian national side that has seen the 29-year-old forward net 48 goals in 78 appearances (including six goals in his last three games).
A short statement issued this morning by the player himself reads;
“I am withdrawing from the Bulgarian national team. It was a difficult decision but sometimes we have to take difficult decisions.
It wasn’t a decision I took lightly and I have reconsidered several times. Everything has a beginning and an end and that is today.”
The heavily-criticised striker has been coming under fire from supporter’s of both his club and his national side this season following a series of lacklustre performances, and the former Tottenham man has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the summer as a result.
However, it now seems ‘Berba’ is taking positive steps to revive his somewhat flagging domestic career by giving up the Bulgarian captaincy in favour of focusing his efforts squarely on finally hitting his stride in a Manchester United shirt.