Dimitar Berbatov has revealed how he was once held hostage in a restaurant in a bid to be forced to change clubs. Berbatov was a teenager making his name at CSKA Sofia at the time when the incident happened.

He was taken to a restaurant by a teammate after training, and held for several hours by a group of men who wanted him to join a rival club instead.

Berbatov, who went on to play for Bulgaria, Tottenham and Manchester United, revealed the bizarre incident when speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

He said: "I was playing for CSKA Sofia and I was really starting to show my qualities. And normally, when you show your quality as a player, teams will come for you, submit offers, ask, you know, how long do you have as a contract, how much do you cost to buy, and stuff like this.

"But back home was more different. Back home it was like, 'Him? All right, bring him here....