Dimitar Berbatov has come to the defence of Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko after the Slovenian forward faced stinging criticism from former club captain Gary Neville.
Neville had questioned Sesko’s performances following United’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend, suggesting the 22-year-old was “miles off it” compared to other recent signings. Sesko joined the Red Devils in a £74 million move from RB Leipzig last summer, as Ruben Amorim sought a replacement for Rasmus Højlund, who left on loan to Napoli.
Since arriving at Old Trafford, Sesko has scored twice in 10 Premier League appearances, both goals coming in back-to-back games before October’s international break. In contrast, fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have drawn praise for their sharp displays, with Mbeumo even claiming the Premier League Player of the Month award for October.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the Forest stalemate, Neville said:
“He’s miles off it compared to the other forwards United brought in, like Cunha and Mbeumo. He looks awkward, his touch was off a few times when balls went over the top. For £80 million, yes, he’s young and still settling, but you want to see something more.”
Dimitar Berbatov, who himself experienced scrutiny following his big-money move to United in 2008, urged caution, warning that relentless criticism could damage a young player’s confidence.
“Everybody can criticise via social media or on TV, but I don’t care how big a man you think you are — that kind of tough criticism, repeated constantly, can get to you,” Berbatov told Metro.
“It can affect your game, your mood, your confidence, because we’re all human beings. Criticism should be constructive — something that helps you think, improve, and perform better.”
While Dimitar Berbatov acknowledged that Neville had earned the right to offer strong opinions given his career at Old Trafford, he emphasised the importance of balance:
“Sesko has had a slow start, but he’s talented and needs time. I’d rather look at the positives and hope he steps up to deliver the goals United need from their No.9.”
Meanwhile, Amorim has used Joshua Zirkzee sparingly this season, giving the Dutch forward only 82 minutes across 10 Premier League games. Reports in Italy suggest Zirkzee could return to Serie A in January, with United expected to explore short-term attacking reinforcements to ease the burden on Sesko.
