SIR Alex Ferguson welcomes Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford last night after finally winning his amazing battle to sign him before the closure of the midnight transfer window.

Red Devil ... Berbatov Last night

In a day of sensational developments, the Manchester United boss even played the role of taxi driver taking Berbatov to the clubs training ground in his £130,000 Bentley.

Fergie intervened after rivals Manchester City tried to hijack the signing following their £220million takeover by an Arab consortium.

Striker Berbatov, 27, was snapped through a window talking to Fergie in a room at the club last night after arriving on a private jet from London to Manchester Airport.

Jet set ... star's plane touches down

After clinching the £31million deal, Sir Alex said: This is a key signing. Dimitar is one of the best and most exciting strikers in world football.

Berbatov, 27, said: Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me.

After putting pen to paper he appeared in a United strip and thrilled a 300-strong crowd of United fans at Old Trafford.

Earlier eager Fergie met Berba as his plane landed on the tarmac.

At the airport Sir Alex, 66, turned cabbie and ushered the Bulgarian goal machine and his representative into the back of his motor and drove them from the private arrivals area just after 3.15pm.

Ironically, Berbatovs touchdown came as fans of fierce rivals City were revelling in THEIR clubs amazing last-ditch bid to steal the player from under Uniteds noses.

But Fergie was not to be denied as he pulled into Uniteds Carrington training ground via a back exit around 20 minutes later to seal the dramatic swoop.

The gaffer left the state-of-the-art footie complex in the same black Bentley at around 4.50pm, with Berbatovs people in the back.

Steer we go ... Bentley with Berbatov

The free-scoring centre forward followed about half an hour later in a Mercedes 4x4 and was driven to Manchesters Bridgewater Hospital for a medical.

Wearing jeans, he was flanked by a United security guard as he arrived. He left at 8.40pm, refusing to talk.

In a separate twist yesterday, Man City had a British record £35million bid accepted for Berbatov and were given permission to negotiate with the star.

But United upped their offer from £28million to £31million to clinch the deal.

The Berbatov saga came amid a breathless round of last-ditch deals on transfer deadline day.

Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin went on loan to Hertha Berlin, while Reds full-back Steve Finnan was sold to Spanish side Espanyol.

Manchester Utd striker Louis Saha joined Everton and Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton was reported to be the subject of a transfer bid from a top ten Premier League club.

But Barton insisted he was staying, because I owe the club and the fans so much because of everything I have put them through.