Fiorentina have attacked former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov after his last-minute snub. Viola fans were waiting at the airport for Berbatov to arrive for his medical this afternoon, but he never turned up.

Juventus intervened and had apparently agreed a deal with Manchester United after offering higher wages, but last night it was reported he had snubbed them too for Fulham.

"ACF Fiorentina announce that the transfer for Dimitar Berbatov definitively collapsed after an agreement with Manchester United had been concluded (with shared exchange of contracts, the first instalment paid and the financial guarantees for the second instalment ratified) and after reaching a verbal agreement with the player over his contract.

"During today the English club had allowed their player the written permission to come to Florence for a medical and to sign his contract.

"The player got on the flight with his agent and on tickets paid for by Fiorentina. He never arrived in Florence.

"This was down to outlandish and arrogant behaviour of other clubs, who have nothing to do with fair play and sporting ethics that go even beyond the confines of fairness.

"As for the player, apart from his characteristics and his value on the field, at this stage we are happy he didn't come to Fiorentina. He did not deserve our city, to wear our jersey or the values that represent it."