Former Tottenham director of football Damien Comolli has accused Dimitar Berbatov of going on strike before his move to Manchester United.
Comolli, who was sacked along with manager Juande Ramos by Spurs in October following their dismal start to the season, believes Berbatov's transfer saga had an unsettling effect on the coaching staff and team.
Berbatov finally joined United in the final hours of the summer's transfer deadline day and Comolli claims the Bulgarian refused to play for Tottenham in their opening three games of the season.
"I think the fact that Berbatov stayed so long, until the last day, made life for the coaching staff difficult," Comolli told Sky Sports News.
"What can you do if a player tells you, 'I'll never play for you any more'? If a player has refused to play three games, like happened last summer, what can you do about it?"
Spurs twice just missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League during Comolli's time at White Hart Lane, but the sporting director of St Etienne admits he was surprised how difficult it would be to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.
"I'm not looking for excuses but when I joined Spurs I didn't realise how difficult it would be to break into the top four," added Comolli.
The Frenchman also hit back at Harry Redknapp's criticism of the recruitment policy of Tottenham under the former regime of Comolli and Ramos.
Redknapp blasted the standard of the squad following their narrow win over Burnley in the Carling Cup semi-finals, but Comolli has rejected the criticism and feels their progress to a second successive final proves the quality of players at White Hart Lane.
"Not many players in England outside the top four have got to two successive finals," noted Comolli.
"So I think, personally, the quality is there, that's what everyone is saying.
"It happens to everyone. (Didier) Zokora went on trial at Portsmouth and he turned him down a few years ago, and now he's playing all the games for Spurs. It's a question of timing."
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