Mercurial Dimitar Berbatov used to sit in the changing room ‘drawing pictures of farms’

On Feb 6, 2023

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has revealed Dimitar Berbatov’s curious changing room hobby while playing for Fulham.

Frimpong’s promising start to his career had already been derailed by two ACL ruptures when he found himself at Fulham exactly a decade ago. Then 21, the Arsenal academy graduate was coming off the back of loan spells at Wolves and Charlton when a move to Craven Cottage presented itself in the January window.

It was there the larger than life character, who was perhaps better known for his off-field persona and ‘DENCH’ catchphrase, came to meet veteran striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian was in his first season at Fulham following a successful four-year spell at Manchester United. He went on to notch 15 goals for the Cottagers that year.

But despite his artistry on the field, it was his passion for his hobby – drawing pictures in the Fulham changing room after training – which made the biggest impression on a wide-eyed Frimpong.

“I feel like footballers should be able to express themselves,” Frimpong told Daily Star Sport while reminiscing about his own career trajectory, which peaked before it really got going at the Emirates.

What is your fondest memory of Emmanuel Frimpong? Let us know in the comments section.

Emmanuel Frimpong [L] was loaned out to Fulham from Arsenal in 2013
(Image: Getty Images)

“When I went to Fulham Berbatov was there. After every training session, he would stay in the changing room and he’d be drawing.

“He would sit there for two hours not talking to anybody. I was looking at him thinking this guy is probably a multi-millionaire, over 30-years-old and he’s just sitting there drawing, but he enjoys it. He loves it.

“I wouldn’t really pay attention but he would draw farms and things like that. He was really good, I was surprised. You’d never find me doing that but he enjoyed it so yeah, shout-out to Berbatov. Top guy.”

Dimitar Berbatov would spend hours drawing at Fulham after training
(Image: Getty Images)

Frimpong only made 16 Arsenal appearances in total
(Image: GETTY)

Frimpong saw playing opportunities hard to come by at Arsenal and a second ACL injury while at Wolves during the 2011/12 season dashed his dreams of ever becoming a fully-fledged regular under Arsene Wenger.

A permanent move to Barnsley followed his six matches for Fulham. And the Ghanaian vanished from the bright lights of the Premier League almost as quickly as he had emerged with 2011 Grime track ‘Leave It yeah’ alongside his cousin Lethal Bizzle – a song that reached more than two million views on YouTube.

Many questioned whether his musical distractions and time spent cultivating his ‘DENCH’ brand had a part to play in his decline. But now 31, Frimpong has no regrets about expressing himself in a way which, for a period, made him a cult hero on social media.

Emmanuel Frimpong was a fan favourite at Arsenal
(Image: Getty)

The former midfielder doesn’t regret his off-field distractions
(Image: frimponged10/Instagram)

“Of course looking back it’s crazy for a Premier League footballer to be doing that but why not? You have to be yourself,” Frimpong said.

“At the time I enjoyed music. Why couldn’t I express myself and do something that I loved? As long as I wasn’t disgracing the badge of Arsenal, and at the time I wasn’t.

“My cousin was into music and I thought this is the chance for me to jump on a track and drop a 16-bar!” he added before bursting into laughter.

Frimpong has urged Arsenal to go on and sign Declan Rice this summer. Read more here.