Former Bulgarian football star Dimitar Berbatov has revealed he was held hostage by gangsters at age 18 in an attempt to force him to transfer to a rival club.
Berbatov, now 44, recounted the terrifying incident on a podcast hosted by former teammate Rio Ferdinand. At the time, he was a promising player with CSKA Sofia.
The bandits, allegedly affiliated with notorious Bulgarian gangster Georgi Iliev, wanted Berbatov to join another team. Berbatov contrasted this with typical transfer procedures, stating that in Bulgaria then, the approach was simply: “He? Bring him here.”
The coercion began after a training session when a teammate offered Berbatov, who did not own a car, a ride. The teammate claimed he needed to take Berbatov to a friend’s house.
Instead, they drove to a restaurant. Inside, Berbatov was abandoned by his teammate and confronted by a lone man, flanked by three large, intimidating figures described as “big guys like refrigerators, typical of the Balkans.”
The man, who introduced himself with a name translated as “cook,” informed Berbatov they knew about him and wanted him to join “their team.” Berbatov’s protests that he enjoyed playing for CSKA Sofia were dismissed, with the gangster stating, “we’ll find a way.”
Terrified, Berbatov was held for two or three hours before being allowed to call his father. He frantically explained his situation, prompting his father to intervene.
His father contacted individuals who then spoke with directors from both clubs. This intervention ultimately ensured Berbatov remained with CSKA Sofia.
Berbatov, fearing he would be kidnapped or beaten, said the experience at such a young age forced him to mature quickly and become a man.