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Nani wants Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Manchester United despite Champions League final omission
May 30, 2011 11:06:00 AM
Portuguese winger admits he does not know striker's thoughts after missing out on place in match squad at Wembley, but wants him to stay and fight for success at Old Trafford
Manchester United winger Nani hopes team-mate Dimitar Berbatov decides to stay at the club after missing out on Sir Alex Ferguson's Champions League final squad against Barcelona on Saturday.Berbatov was a surprising omission from United's bench at Wembley with Ferguson instead opting for Michael Owen as his only substitute striker, and the Bulgarian was so devastated by the decision he did not even sit and watch his side's eventual defeat with the rest of the squad.
The Scot's decision to leave out the Premier League's joint top scorer, coupled with Berbatov's reaction, has fuelled speculation the striker will seek a move away from Old Trafford this summer.
Nani, a substitute at Wembley, admitted he does not know what is in his team-mate's mind at the moment, but revealed he hopes Berbatov will remain at the club.
"I don't know what he has in mind but everyone knows he's a fantastic player," the Portuguese winger told reporters.
"He has scored a lot of goals for us, finished as the top scorer in the league, and I would like him to play for Manchester United again next season.
"I don't know which players will be coming in but most important is that the ones who stay fight for us."
Berbatov's absence even gave rise to reports he had stormed out of Wembley after learning he would not be involved in the final.
The player's agent, Emil Dantchev, dismissed the stories as "nonsense", but would not be drawn on his clients long term future, saying: "Let us take a few days."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
5:23 PM BST
Right, still plenty of time to go until kick-off, so why not get involved in our Champions League quiz on Twitter? Here's one to start you off:
After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?
After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?
5:18 PM BST
Bayern, as already alluded to, are desperate to atone for defeat against Chelsea 12 months ago and one man who knows all about the agony and ecstasy of Champions League finals is former die Roten defender Samuel Kuffour. The Ghanaian beating the ground in fury after seeing his side concede twice in injury time at the end of the 1999 tournament decider against Manchester United remains one of the most memorable images in the competition’s history, so check out our exclusive interview with Kuffour, who would achieve redemption just two years later when Bayern edged out Valencia on penalties.
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However, who doesn't feel anything by admiration for Jupp Heynckes? The Bayern coach learned earlier this year that he would be replaced by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola earlier this summer but did he let it affect him? Not a bit, with Heynckes now on the verge of a historic treble. Worth noting, too, that Heynckes, who led Madrid to the title in 1998 before being replaced by Fabio Capello, has never failed to reach the final of any Champions League in which he has taken part.
5:07 PM BST
Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!
5:03 PM BST
We’re still awaiting the confirmed line-ups but if you’re looking for the likely starting 11s, let me point you in the direction of our match preview. Also, if you want an excellent and entertaining analysis of tonight’s fascinating final, well, how does a James Richardson-hosted debate involving Jonathan Wilson and Paulo Sousa tickle your fancy? The prince of puns, a true titan of tactical thinking and a two-time Champions League winner - a veritable dream team, I think you'll agree.
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