Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov will stand by his decision to retire from international football and will not return to Bulgaria, his agent has confirmed.
Bulgaria's new coach Lothar Matthaeus promised last week to revive the team and to try to convince Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov to return to the squad.
"Dimitar will not refuse to meet and talk to Matthaues but that's all," Berbatov's agent Emil Danchev told a local TV channel late on Sunday. "He will not return."
"He made it clear when he announced his decision earlier this year," Danchev said, adding that Berbatov hopes the new leader at the helm of the Bulgarian team will achieve the success everybody in the country hopes for.
Dimitar Berbatov announced at the beginning of May his retirement from international football with immediate effect. He explained at the time that he had become "discouraged" by his performances for his country, dealing a heavy blow to the team.
The 29-year-old was captain of his country and scored a national record 48 goals in just 74 matches.
Lothar Matthaeus signed earlier this month a one-year deal with an option for two more years at the helm.
So far, though, Matthaeus' coaching career hasn't come close to the glory of his days on the pitch. His next challenge will be to try to salvage Bulgaria's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 and he has recalled 18 overseas-based players in the squad for his first match in charge.
Bulgaria, beaten 4-0 by England at Wembley at the beginning of September, lost 1-0 at home to Montenegro on September 7. The team visit Wales on October 8 in their next Euro 2012 qualifier.
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