Berbatov joins Monaco on loan from Fulham after snubbing Spurs return

Dimitar Berbatov has joined French side Monaco on loan from Fulham until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old striker opted to join the Ligue 1 side rather than rejoin Tottenham, as revealed by Sportsmail on Friday morning.

Big-spending Monaco moved for Berbatov as they are lacking cover for injured star Radamel Falcao, who underwent successful surgery on a knee injury last week.

'I'm happy, excited and a little bit nervous to be honest,' Berbatov told Monaco's official website, www.asm-fc.com.

'I look forward to starting training with my new team-mates and open a new chapter in my career.'

Berbatov will wear the number 15 at Stade Louis II, where he will stay until the end of the season, when his contract with the Cottagers expires.

Speaking about the addition of Berbatov, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said: 'Dimitar will bring us all his experience and talent.

'His coming is of course connected to Radamel Falcao's injury. He played in big clubs such as Manchester United and he's a big striker.

'We still have two competitions to play and he will be an asset with Emmanuel Riviere, Valere Germain and Anthony Martial. He has a different profile than our other forwards.'

Manager Rene Meulensteen was busy on deadline day in a bid to overhaul his squad and beat the drop.

He moved to replace Berbatov by completing the signing of Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou.

The Cottagers have replaced him with the highly-rated Mitroglou, who has moved to Fulham from Olympiacos for an undisclosed fee.

West Ham were interested in signing Mitroglou, but the 25-year-old has opted to move to Craven Cottage instead.

Mitroglou has signed a four-year contract with the west London club.

The striker began his career in Germany, but moved to Olympiacos in 2007.

He has enjoyed a superb season so far, scoring 14 league goals in the Greek Super League.
In total the forward scored 62 goals in 148 appearances for Olympiacos.