Dimitar Berbatov hit out at the treatment meted out by Sir Alex Ferguson during his final year at Manchester United.

Berbatov completed a move to Fulham last week, ending an up-and-down four-year spell at Old Trafford, where he became a peripheral figure last season.

"I said goodbye to the people who deserve it but I couldn't say goodbye to Ferguson," Berbatov told reporters.  "I don't think I deserved such treatment, not playing in the last year, because I was the top scorer.

"I went more than 10, probably 15, times to ask the coach if they needed me. Every time I was told that I'm an important player and should not leave, but then again I was not in the team."

Berbatov's career at United seemed to have come to an end when Ferguson left the talented Bulgarian striker out of his squad for the Champions League final against Barcelona in 2011, despite being the top scorer in the Premier League that season.

The striker was further sidelined the following season, hardly getting a game, with the manager preferring Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez as striker partners for Wayne Rooney; as a result Berbatov admitted he had lost respect for Ferguson.

"Maybe I should have gone when he left me out of the squad for the Champions League final," he said. "I know he's the boss but he has lost, to some extent, my respect because of the way he treated me.

"He tried to explain to me that the team would be using a more direct style with more speed, but I've never been among the fastest players. I like to hold the ball. I found it hard to accept his decision. I still have my dignity."