Manchester United are simply ensuring they do not lose the Bulgarian on a Bosman.
It would be terrible business for a club to pay £30 million for a player, only to allow him to leave on a free transfer four years later.
It is the type of negligence which would see businessman sacked from their jobs, so United are being prudent by activating the extension on Berbatov’s contract.
The Bulgarian has been the definition of a bit-part player this year, chipping in when asked, but spending most of his time sitting on the bench or in the stands.
It has been quite a demotion in fact for last season’s Premier League joint top scorer.
He has been used as a luxury by Sir Alex Ferguson, and it is a near certainty he will be sold in the summer.
In truth his move has never panned out as he would have liked, he has scored goals, but struggled against United’s top rivals, and found himself benched for the big games with frustrating regularity.
Berbatov will want to get back playing regularly again, likely in Germany, where he enjoyed a successful spell early in his career with Leverkusen, even scoring goals which knocked United out of the 2002 Champions League.
If United were to keep him next season, they would either have to start him regularly to convince him to sign a prolonged deal, or risk losing him on a free transfer when the extension expires.
They won’t do the latter, and regular starts seem equally unlikely, given the form of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck.
United will likely let Owen go too, and seek to sign a new fourth striker.
This summer they could potentially get up to £10 million for Berbatov, and should take it.
He can still play a role this season, as he has proved when he has stepped in. If United make it to the Europa League Final, a long road ahead yet, look for Ferguson to involve the Bulgarian after snubbing him in the Champions League Final last year.
But fans should not be bemused or confused by the new deal, he will leave this summer, United are just making sure they get a transfer fee.
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