In a recent podcast appearance, Jermain Defoe has recalled the first moment he met Dimitar Berbatov at Spurs, and revealed some of the unusual habits the Bulgarian striker had while at the club.
Berbatov signed for Tottenham back in 2006, arriving from German side Bayer Leverkusen as something of an unknown entity.
The talented forward would go on to score 46 goals and register 29 assists in 102 appearances for Spurs (Transfermarkt) before moving on to Manchester United in 2008, under rather controversial circumstances.
A prolific goalscorer he may have been, but Berbatov is largely better known for his immense first touch and ball control. Indeed, there are many who would describe Berbatov as one of the most technically gifted players of the Premier League era.
Berbatov impressed Defoe within five minutes
Jermain Defoe could see that from the very first training session when Berbatov arrived in North London, as he revealed in an appearance on The Players Channel. And, he also spotted a few other notable things about his new teammate at the time, including his dress sense and his dining habits.
Troy Deeney asks Defoe about Berbatov, and the former Spurs man replies: “One of the best touches I’ve ever seen… When he came to Tottenham, and then I saw him, you know what it’s like, it only takes five minutes to see someone in training and know that he’s going to help us.
“He had slicked hair. He came in training every day with a leather jacket on, shirt, jeans, shoes, every day. He’d come into the canteen and take out his plastic cutlery, have his lunch, and go home… that was just Berba.”
Spurs Web Opinion
What a player Berbatov was. It doesn’t surprise me that he had some weird habits, though. He just strikes you as that kind of person who is so nonchalant and does his own thing but is capable of producing magic on the pitch.
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