Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has issued a warning to his old teammate Gary Neville regarding his public criticism of the club's summer signing, Benjamin Sesko. Berbatov emphasised the need for constructive feedback to help the young striker find his feet at Old Trafford.
The Pressure on a £74 Million Signing
The Slovenian international, Benjamin Sesko, joined United in a high-profile £74 million transfer from RB Leipzig. He was brought in to replace Rasmus Hojlund, who departed for Napoli. While other new arrivals like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have adapted quickly to Ruben Amorim's system, Sesko's start has been more challenging.
To date, the 22-year-old has scored just two goals in 11 appearances across all competitions. A subdued performance in the match against Nottingham Forest placed him back under intense scrutiny, prompting Neville to suggest the 'jury is out' on the forward, whom he described as looking 'awkward' and 'well off it'.
Berbatov's Plea for Constructive Criticism
While acknowledging Neville's right to critique his former club, given his decorated career at United, Berbatov cautioned against the potential harm of persistent negative commentary. 'Everybody can criticise via social media, on TV, and I don’t care how big a man you think you are, that tough criticism, repeated constantly, can get to you,' Berbatov told Metro.
He elaborated on the psychological impact, stating, 'It can affect your game, it can affect your mood, it can affect your confidence, because we’re all human beings.' The former Bulgarian striker, now a brand ambassador for LiveScore Bet, advocates for a more supportive approach. He urged for feedback that gives a player 'something extra' to think about and improve upon, rather than simply highlighting shortcomings.
Adapting to the Premier League 'Beast'
Berbatov remains confident that Sesko possesses the raw attributes needed for success. 'He has everything that a striker should have,' he said. 'He’s tall, he’s athletic. Left, right foot, he scored some bangers in the Bundesliga, heading as well.' However, he was quick to point out the significant step up in intensity from the German league.
'The Premier League is a completely different beast,' Berbatov noted, highlighting the need for Sesko to build a better understanding with his teammates. He advised the young striker to learn the specific tendencies of the players around him—such as when a winger will cross the ball—to better time his runs and improve his positioning in the box.
With United set to face Tottenham, all eyes will be on whether Sesko can silence his critics and kickstart his United career, proving that a slow start can indeed be the prelude to a successful leap.
