Spurs complain over duo

Clubs' interest in Keane and Berbatov elicits angry response

Last updated: 18th July 2008

Robbie Keane Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham

Keane and Berbatov: Want to leave

Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players

Daniel Levy
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Liverpool and Manchester United have been reported to the Premier League by Tottenham Hotspur following their respective interest in Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.

Spurs are unhappy with the conduct of their top-flight rivals following speculation linking Keane with a move to Anfield, and Berbatov with a switch to Old Trafford.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has expressed his interest in Keane, while United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his optimism of concluding a deal for Berbatov.

However, Spurs have criticised the two clubs, with chairman Daniel Levy feeling they have to take the matter up with the Premier League.

Sheer arrogance

"Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players," said Levy in a statement on the club's official website.

"It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

"This comes after a series of events, dating back to last summer, which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League (PL) rules. As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the PL about the conduct of Manchester United.

"Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie recently and we made an official complaint to the PL about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.

"The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player. Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of PL rules of conduct.

Negative influence

"Our subsequent position has been severely compromised by both clubs making their intentions widely known and indeed making contact with the players and their agents, without the club's permission.

"I have absolutely no wish to sell either player and to date we have not accepted any offer for either. However, when a player's head is turned and their commitment is absent, particularly when they occupy key positions such as that of striker, they become a negative influence in a team dressing room in which they were once a positive addition and influence.

"This is the situation we now have on our hands, with both Dimitar and Robbie having made it clear that they wish to leave for Manchester Utd and Liverpool respectively.

"Irrespective of the outcome and futures of Robbie and Dimitar, we are continuing to seek to bring in quality, talented players for the future, who want to play in a Spurs shirt."

Comments

Keith Holly (Liverpool fan) says...

All this harpin on is giving me a headache.....The comments about lack of loyaty is quite amusing. Lets face it if you have support a team from boyhood like Real Madrid you get an offer to play for the team you supported what would you do? and remember you dont have much time left....It an easy answer....Not too sure on berbatov though...

Posted 14:06 23rd July 2008

James Michaels says...

I think that you will find that when Andrew Underwood said that Liverpool are one of the two most successful teams in England, he meant of all time, not over the last 10 years. By that reckoning, Liverpool are the most successful English side, closely followed by United. Get it right John Black and Ryan Gannon.

Posted 11:49 23rd July 2008

Matt Naylor (Liverpool fan) says...

Just wanted to respond to Eban and Tom Graham's comments, firstly Eban, Spurs have spent more money thus far in the transfer window than any other Premiership club, ¿16.5 million for Modric and ¿12.5 million for Dos Santos, Gomes for a fee of around ¿3 million and you are in talks with Arshavin apparently. So I don't know how you figure that Tottenham are by any means not a big spending club? As for having to sell your best players, you have to admit Man U and Liverpool are bigger clubs than Spurs it's that simple, Berba and Keane want to play in the CL and neither player are getting any younger, I really don't know what all the fuss is about. As for Tom's comments they appear very short-sighted, why would you put two players in the stands which could demand together a transfer recoup of in excess of ¿40 million? Their wages alone for the remainder of their contracts are around the ¿20 million mark, so Tom your "solution" is to not take the money on offer which would add in excess of ¿40 million to your warchest for two players who no longer want to play for the club, your solution is to leave them in the stands for a combined ¿150k-a-week for the remainder of their contracts, watch their value dwindle and then they can leave in two years for nothing meaning Spurs have paid ¿20 million in wages for the pair and lost over ¿40 million in transfer fees? The fact is Keane is a boyhood Liverpool fan and now has the chance to play for them, at his age this will be arguably the only opportunity he will have to play in the Champions League and I can't see what Keane has done wrong? It's a step forward in either players career and thats the bottomline.

Posted 10:48 23rd July 2008

Robert Ryan (Liverpool fan) says...

Firstly, to all who are slating Liverpool - what exactly has Rafa said on record? The fact that he liked Keane as he is a quality player, no harm in that, he also said that he won't talk about transfers - that's in the hands of Rick Parry. So, if that's worthy of punishment then every PL manager should be brought to book - only last week Harry Redknapp was banging on about SWP, so he should also face similar punishment then by your arguments! As a Liverpool fan there's no love lost for SAF & Man U - but again I don't remember hearing an interview where he actually said the reported words - who in their right mind would believe anything that the rag "the Scum" prints?? If every time a manager says that he likes a player then punishment is dished out, I guess every manager will have to stop talking to the press - haven't Spurs being doing similar with Arshavin? P.S. for Ryan Gannon "and im just laughing at the liverpool fan who said they are one of the top two teams, your not get over it you will never be challanging the likes of United and Chelsea so just settle for fourth" if you read the Liverpool fans comments : "to get the chance to further my career at the two most successful clubs in England" - try to understand mate - Liverpool & Utd are the two most successful clubs in England.

Posted 08:25 23rd July 2008

John Mannion says...

I thought that it would be the arrogant liverpool fans who thought they would have a dig at spurs not being a 'big club'. you and your manager are living on the luckiest european cup win in history! you are no closer to winning the title than stoke are so stop being so deluded and realise you dont have £2 million to spend let alone 20! anyway why would keane leave a club who won a trophy last season for a one that never? You better wake up and smell the coffee scousers you have never won the premiership and you wont be doing it in the near future.

Posted 23:37 22nd July 2008

Gareth Pullinger (Liverpool fan) says...

Ryan, You ought to settle for mid table and losing your assets to the big clubs and stop harping on about it, yeah so what you won the milk cup and a few seasons ago you won the "peace out" cup wooppy doo so get over it you will never be challenging for europe and settle for 15th !

Posted 23:05 22nd July 2008

Ryan Gannon (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

The thing that has really annoyed me is keanes loyalty, yeah fine berbatov can go we've all seen his attitude from the start, but in my opinion keane strikes me as the kind of player who would play for us for free "not literally" and im just laughing at the liverpool fan who said they are one of the top 2 teams, your not get over it you will never be challanging the likes of united and chelsea so just settle for fourth.

Posted 20:48 22nd July 2008

Dan Gill (Manchester United fan) says...

So are we not allowed to bid for players anymore? Levy is an idiot. Fergie never mentioned Berbatov by name and this is nothing like the Ronaldo saga. Ronaldo is under contract with us so therefore must stay until the contract is over, its the same with Berbatov, We can bid for the player, if Spurs are unwilling to sell then no deal can be done.

Posted 19:38 22nd July 2008

Markus Pettersson (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I hope Keane and Berbatov goes so they can reach for further achievements in their careers now before their careers start to go down. Just compare to your own work careers; would you turn down a promotion with better salaries and benefits at your current position or if you get a better job offer from another company? Of course you would take it. Of course in football this is a more "delicate" situation with all the surrounding supporters, but frankly the players does not care in the end. They are looking after their selfs as i/you would do.

Posted 17:58 22nd July 2008

Bill Roberts (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I can't understand why Fergie would want Berbatov in the first place, after all he will probably be at Man Utd for a fortnight. Becacuse once he arrives and starts throwing his toys out of his pram, Fergie will ship him out as quick as lightning, as Van Nistleroy, Jap Stam, Beckham etc etc As far as i 'm concerned Man Utd can have Berbatov, after spending half of last season watchching him berate his own teammates instead of rolling his sleeves up and getting stuck in.

Posted 12:19 22nd July 2008

Sam Lawrence (Arsenal fan) says...

It's interesting to see the wide range of opinions and views from different sides of this story. I believe that one thing that has to be mentioned is the players agents. The vast majority of agents have 1 goal. And that is to get the highest fee and contract for their players and in return make the highest profit available to them. They use the media as a tool to raise speculation and interest in their players and tabloid papers snap these stories up, twist them around and make them appear in a different context as to which the interview has been spoken. Tapping up occurs throughout football but were does the line get crossed. If Rooney tries to persudade Lampard to join United at the England camp is that tapping up? I think Sir Alex and Rafa are wiley enough not too make comments that would jeopordise their dealings in the transfer market or land them fines. How can you expect players with the calibre of Keane and Berba not too want to better their careers. Playing football at the highest level should be on every players agenda and in a neutral opinion. I don't believe Spurs will be challenging for major honours whilst these two talents are at their peak. I also agree with john on liverpools situation. I watched alot of liverpool last season and against the big teams whether in th PL or in Europe I fought they were poor. Another poor seasson I'm afraif for liveropool fans. I believe if Arsenal can keep their back four playing together throughout the season then the attaacking flair can be nicely dovetailed with a powerful and quick defence. Nice to see a defensive midfielder with a bit of bite come to the club. Not long till the start of the season. Im starting to get the itch.

Posted 12:06 22nd July 2008

Eban Galliard (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I am a Spurs fan and I am really upset to see the likes of Berba and Keeno leaving the club. Unfortunately, Spurs cannot compete with the HUGE bank balances of the top clubs in Europe, so we are always going to sell our best assests. Something needs to be done to curb these huge transfer fees, as it only helps the richer clubs and throws player loyalty out the window. In my opinion, no player is worth 10m let alone 30, 40 or 50. Football is a business, its not about the football anymore. If you have the cash, you will win trophies, if you dont, then you never will.

Posted 07:41 22nd July 2008

Tom Graham (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

If Tottenham let Berbatov or Keane go its stupid. They are in contract so Tottenham don't have to sell and im pretty sure that if the players decide they dont want to play properly then Ramos won't play them which will mean their value will go down and they will never get an offer from a big club again, so spurs are in the driving seat its just whether they would prefer money over success.

Posted 00:33 22nd July 2008

Christopher Simons (Liverpool fan) says...

Spurs fans and their Chairman are a joke. It is funny how they come on here and complain about illegal approaches, when I remember that not so long ago they were holding secret meetings in Spain with one Juande Ramos who at the time was under contract with Seville. This complaint sounds a bit rich to me! Loyalty bah Martin Jol(probably smiling) must be thinking, that what goes around comes around

Posted 00:29 22nd July 2008

John Black (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

All teams go about their business in this shameful manner including Spurs and I'm honest enough to admit it and although I don't think Spurs are a selling club every player has his price and getting ¿18million for Carrick would have been stupid to turn down. Well done Stewart Neill, a Football Fan who's got the right attitude to the sport and appears to know what he's talking about. Unlike Eric Peters who doesn't seem to realise that Sol Campbell left out of contract and if someone like Chelsea offered Liverpool ¿50 million for Torres, they would probably bite their hand off - so does that make them a selling club? Yeah, admittedly Liverpool have more chance of winning the Champions League than Spurs because they're actually in the competition to start with but they both have the same chance of winning the Premier League and that is none. Unlike Andrew Underwood who's still living in the 80's and seems to have not realised that in the last 10 years, Arsenal and Chelsea are undoubtedly more successful than Liverpool and to compare Liverpool in the same bracket as Man Utd is just laughable. Andrew, take a reality check. You only usually qualify for the Champions League as fourth best team in England and although credit must be given for the win against AC Milan, let's face it they lost it more than Liverpool won it and I wouldn't put it past Everton to nick that fourth spot at some point and if they did this would probably be at Liverpool's expense!

Posted 21:58 21st July 2008

Eric Peter (Liverpool fan) says...

Spurs fans, when will you realise you're a selling club always have been always will. Sol Campbell, Michael Carrick, Berbatov and now Keane. And once David Bentley or Pavluchenko etc arrives and if they do well, guess where they will be going. Players like Keane and Berbatov are 100 percent right because you will never be challenging for serious silverware and that's a fact.

Posted 20:23 21st July 2008

Andrew Underwood (Liverpool fan) says...

Daniel Levy says that this situation is now out of there hands because of United and Liverpool's interest in the players but much the same as with the Ronaldo situation at United they own the players contracts so the power is in spurs hands. but if I was in Keane or Berba position I would do the same thing to get the chance to further my career at the two most successful clubs in England and the chance to play champions league football and Keane and Berba are both around 27 or 28 years old so this could be a big chance for them win major honours.

Posted 18:11 21st July 2008

Jack Morgan (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

They can both go as far as I'm concerned. Berbatov's got too much attitude, & it was only last season Keane was interviewed on Sky saying how he would commit himself to Spurs for the rest of the season. We'll be getting decent money for both of them & will come back just as good if not better. Both clear off & let us get someone in the club who wants to play for us.

Posted 17:11 21st July 2008

Gareth Rooke says...

Get your facts straight. Spurs offered Palace significantly more than the tribunal set the fee at but Simon Jordan was greedy. Both clubs tried to negotiate a fair deal but couldn't come to terms. Palace were let down by the tribunal and Jordan's greed! Berbatov and Keane can clear off now. We should take the money for Keane but tell Barca they can have him for ¿5m less than Man Utd are offering. Players come and go but the club will always move on.

Posted 14:44 21st July 2008

Stewart Neill (Manchester United fan) says...

Im a man u fan and i am really disappointed in sir alex. Whining about real madrid then trying to provoke spurs about berbatov. Same as Rafa. There needs to be more control brought under the managers of these clubs and the players need to abide by their contract. Sell Ronaldo, hes not bigger than the team and the wages he is on at the momemt is shocking! poor him!

Posted 12:52 21st July 2008

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