Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says it is “better for everyone” that he leaves the club, according to BBC.com

Berbatov, 31, made just 21 appearances last season, and has fallen out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Bulgarian is fed up of having to sit most of the matches on the bench and has made it clear he wants to play regular football. He had cost United £30.75m in 2008,.

“I love this club, but I am not going to be useful to anyone if I am not playing,” Berbatov wrote on his official website. I want to play, I want to help, but for unknown reasons it’s not going to happen so it’s better for everyone if we say goodbye.”

Berbatov scored 14 goals in his first season at United after arriving from Tottenham, and featured in the club’s Champions League final defeat by Barcelona.

He found the target 12 times in his second season before finishing the following campaign as top goalscorer with 22, including hat-tricks against Liverpool and Birmingham and five in the 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn.

But last season he found stiff competition from Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez and found it difficult to make it to the starting line-up as Ferguson admitted he was no longer able to guarantee the Bulgarian regular first-team football.

Berbatov has been linked with several European clubs over the summer, but nothing has materialised and the former Spurs striker says he is desperate to sort out his future.