Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Dimitar Berbatov has opened up on being kidnapped by gangsters who tried to force him to move clubs.
Berbatov, 44, was an 18-year-old playing for CSKA Sofia in his native Bulgaria when the terrifying incident, which he kept secret from his United team-mates and at other clubs, occurred.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his Rio Presents podcast, Berbatov revealed he was held hostage for several hours after being accosted at a restaurant by a group of men believed to be henchmen of notorious mobster Georgi Iliev - and admitted he thought he may be killed.