Monaco signs mercurial Dimitar Berbatov on loan

MONACO (AP) — Monaco has signed mercurial forward Dimitar Berbatov on loan from English Premier League club Fulham until the end of the season, filling the void left by Colombia striker Radamel Falcao's long-term knee injury.

The 33-year-old Berbatov shone in spells for Manchester United, Tottenham and Fulham, scoring 94 league goals in 229 league games. Prior to that, he netted 69 goals in 154 league games for German side Bayer Leverkusen.

Berbatov also has a proven international record with 48 goals in 77 matches for Bulgaria, but has since retired from the national team.

Falcao is expected to miss the rest of the season after recently tearing a ligament in his left knee.