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Berbatov in anticipation of his first match for PAOK

11 September 2015 / 17:09:05  GRReporter
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Dimitar Berbatov will probably be included in the composition of PAOK in tomorrow's match with the team of Veria, as stated by sources of GRReporter. The Thessaloniki team coach will announce his decision later today after the last training session of the players, which is set to start at 6:00 pm.

The opposing camp has already announced the names of the players who will play against PAOK at the stadium in Veria at 6:15 pm tomorrow.

"Berbatov’s transfer to PAOK has totally changed the existing plans of the team," coach Igor Tudor admits in his first statements after the lead striker joined the Thessaloniki team.

"We are all very excited to have a player of such class among us," he added in an interview with the Greek digital Nova TV. Tudor pointed out that the transfer period has led to many changes in the team. "Our goal is to adjust the new players to the game of the team, as well as to introduce their specific way of playing in it. Like everyone else, Berbatov needs time to respond to the style of the team. We have good players for all positions and we are very happy about it."

On the upcoming match with Veria, PAOK's coach said, "We have studied in detail the first two matches of the opponent. We have to play with our own style. Football is a sport in which not always the better team wins. We are going to Veria to win the match."

Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov’s father Ivan has revealed that the interest of PAOK to attract the football ace to its ranks dates back to 2013. In an interview with the Greek sports website metrosport.gr he states, "Since 2013 Ivan Savidis (PAOK owner - author’s note) has tried to convince my son to play for PAOK. The insistent pressure and the way in which he sought contact with my son played an important role in his decision to accept his proposal."

Ivan Berbatov said he was very happy with Dimitar’s decision to play for the Thessaloniki team. "We must not forget that PAOK is one of the major teams in Greece, it has a wonderful audience and permanent presence in the European Championships."

The father of the lead striker will not miss the opportunity to watch his son playing on the field of Tumba stadium. "I have decided to travel to Thessaloniki to watch Dimitar in the PAOK - AEK football derby. I do not know the present condition of AEK because it had been in a lower category until recently but it is still a strong team. I know that the match will be a derby and the stadium will be full. It will be a chance to watch Dimitar playing in a major derby of the Greek championship."

To the personal question as to how much the player is devoted to his family, Ivan Berbatov replied, "Dimitar has not forgotten his family for a single moment from the beginning of his glorious career." He says that when he started to play for Tottenham the 34-year-old football ace decided to financially support his parents. He sent 3,000 pounds a month to his father and 1,500 pounds a month to his mother Margarita who was working at a hospital at that time.

A week after accepting Dimitar Berbatov in its ranks the Thessaloniki team is starting to benefit from this move. The club is preparing to sign a contract with a large sports betting company, which will bring 2.4 million euro to it during the forthcoming football season. The company, whose name has not yet been announced, made the decision as soon as the Bulgarian signed the contract with PAOK.

It is worth noting that this fact is a major challenge for the Greek national lottery OPAP, which is the sponsor of the majority of the teams in the Greek football championship. PAOK however, is adamant that it would accept the Greek company as a major, but not the sole sponsor, unless it made a better proposal than the offer received from the sports betting company. According to the Greek sports media, there is a small possibility of this happening but they do not exclude the option of OPAP proposing to PAOK a new and more beneficial offer than the previous one.

Tags: FootballDimitar BerbatovPAOKMatch with VeriaSports betting company
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