There was a new haircut, a new tattoo and maybe, just maybe, a new beginning for Dimitar Berbatov at Manchester United tonight as the Bulgarian inspired Sir Alex Ferguson's team to victory over Celtic in Toronto. The £30.75m signing has a long way to go to find redemption at Old Trafford but one impressive finish and two immaculate assists provided a timely reminder of his genuine, if often infuriating, talent.
The available 'names' in United's travelling party - Berbatov, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in ascending order of adulation from the Toronto crowd - all started an initially pedestrian pre-season friendly brightened by the occasional touch of class from the Bulgarian plus several Hollywood passes from Scholes.
Chris Smalling's first appearance for United since his £12m transfer from Fulham in January, alongside Jonny Evans in a defence including the Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva, gave their back four an average age of 20.5. It was to Neil Lennon's obvious irritation on the touchline that Celtic tested that inexperience only once before the interval, Charlie Mulgrew striking the outside of the post following an adventurous run down the left.
United hardly fared much better in terms of their penetration but the awareness of Berbatov, combined with the energy of the Brazilian full-backs and Gabriel Obertan, carved by far the better chances. The Bulgarian produced the first of this season's strops when he was ignored by Obertan as the French winger raced clear on goal thanks to a measured pass from Rafael. With Berbatov unmarked in front of an open goal, Obertan opted to shoot and dragged his effort horribly wide of Celtic's goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska. He was immediately informed of his error by the United striker.
Rather than brood, however, Berbatov released his frustrations in a vibrant, dominant spell. First he unleashed a powerful drive inches wide then, from Mame Biram Diouf's cross from the left, controlled an awkward bounce superbly before sweeping a left-footed shot beyond Zaluska.
The introduction of Georgios Samaras for Celtic in the second half, a Manchester City flop with an obvious point to prove, and the departure of Scholes and Giggs for United initially tilted the balance towards Lennon's side. Samaras thought he had equalised when he headed James Forrest's free-kick past Edwin Van der Sar only to receive an offside flag and a punch to the head from the United keeper for his troubles instead.
On the hour, however, the Greece international, who was nicknamed 'Tragedy' at City, brought Celtic deservedly level from the penalty spot after Smalling had been easily beaten by Joe Ledley and pulled the former Cardiff City midfielder to the floor.
United responded positively, and with 12 minutes remaining Berbatov found space on the right and crossed low for the substitute Danny Welbeck to bundle the ball home from close range. The Bulgarian then produced a delightful one-two with Tom Cleverley whose low shot from 25-yards took a wicked deflection to leave Zaluska stranded in the Celtic goal.