Manchester United chief David Gill insists they were never worried about losing Dimitar Berbatov to crosstown rivals Manchester City this week. "The takeover at City and the subsequent release of funds meant they were always going to be pretty active on the last day," Gill said. "But the fact that the player had made it clear that he wanted to leave Tottenham to join Manchester United for playing ambitions was enough for us.

"He had talked about his desire to play in the Champions League and to join a club that was challenging for major honours, so we were relaxed about it."