DIMITAR BERBATOV has revealed he turned down an approach from Chelsea, as well as Manchester City, to fulfil his "dream" of joining Manchester United.

Berbatov said he could have earned more money at Stamford Bridge or Eastlands but had his heart set on playing for the European Cup winners, despite the lower salary on offer.

The Bulgaria international, who completed a €37.75 million move from Tottenham Hotspur shortly before Monday's transfer deadline, also made it clear he had never been swayed by City's offer to make him the best-paid player in the Premier League.

"The red shirt is a really, really big thing for me," he said. "I want to play for the biggest club in the world. That is why I am here. I play to enjoy, to entertain the fans, I don't play just for money. If I wanted to play just for money, I would have accepted Manchester City's offer or Chelsea's."

Berbatov acknowledged that his last few months at Tottenham had been an unpleasant experience, culminating in him playing no part in their last two games.

"I was going through very difficult times," he said, "but I always believed that [the transfer was] going to happen and in the end it did.

"People used to say 'keep the faith'. Now I'm the happiest guy in the world. I'm 27 and it's my time. This is maybe the last step in my career. I'm at the biggest club in the world and here I can develop in the way I want.

"I have handled pressure and expectation all through my life," he said. "I am not scared of it. That is why I am here. The most important thing is to enjoy myself, help the team win more trophies and entertain the fans. If I do that and play as I have done in my last two years, I don't think there will be any problem."

On the other side of Manchester, the new British record signing Robinho was making his first statement as a City player.

"I knew that Manchester City is a very big club, there's a great team there already and this is an exciting project," said the €40 million player.

"I liked the project, and when City made the offer to Real Madrid, I decided to come here. I liked the plans that Manchester City have and I want to succeed with them."

The Abu Dhabi United Group have announced grand plans for City to become the world's biggest club, which would be no mean feat, not least because United, who have a claim on that title already, are English and European champions.

But Robinho has bought into their ambitious plan and is enjoying the response to his signing by the City fans.

"That makes me very, very happy, and I want to repay this excitement by performing on the pitch, and scoring a lot of goals for the fans," he said.

"I met with the manager [Mark Hughes] today and it went very well. I know that he was a great player and I think that will be a big help to me."

Guardian Service