‘TIME TO TAKE PREM OVERSEAS’
BERBATOV
SPURS (2006-8) 1 Lge MAN U (2008-12) 2 GAMES 108 GOALS
HARRY KANE has been urged to put himself first if Manchester United come calling in the summer
The careers advice came from Dimitar Berbatov, who quit Tottenham for Old Trafford in 2008.
Berbatov collected two Premier League titles in four years at United and believes Kane will satisfy his lust for silverware by making the same move from Spurs.
“I see a lot of similarities in the situation I went through and what is happening with Kane,” said Berbatov, who cost the Reds almost £31million.
“I feel it’s also a similar time in his career that I was at. You start to think if you’re on the right path and you think about winning things.”
United are among a number of clubs with a long-standing interest in Kane, 26. The England captain
Cup
Prem titles, 1 League Cup 48
SHERINGHAM
SPURS (1992-97) No trophies
MAN U (1997-01) 1 Champions League, 3 Prem titles, 1 FA Cup GAMES 104 GLS 31
had 27 goals in 31 appearances for club and country before his season was curtailed by a torn hamstring in January. Without him, Spurs crashed out of the Champions League and FA Cup, and were struggling in the top-four race.
Kane has four years left on a £200,000-a-week deal he signed in 2018 but that has not deterred some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Nor did it stop the Chingfordborn forward from admitting for the first time last week that he could leave if his club do not start winning trophies.
Kane said: “I love Spurs, I’d always love Spurs, but it’s one of those things. I’ve always said if I don’t feel progression in the team or it’s not going in the right direction then I’m not someone to just stay there for the sake of it.
“I’m an ambitious player, I want to improve, I want to get better. I want to become one of the top, top
players. It all depends what happens with the team and how we progress as a team. So it’s not a definite I’m going to stay there forever, but it’s not a no either.”
Berbatov, 39, recognises the dilemma Kane faces, with Spurs having made the Bulgarian a Premier League superstar during his two years at the club before his defection.
As well as the two titles, Berbatov reached the 2009 Champions League final with United, losing to Barcelona. He also collected the 2010-11 Golden Boot.
“When I left Spurs, even though I had won a trophy with the club, it was a still difficult decision to make,” he told Betfair.
“I was following my own path and I knew people wouldn’t be happy, but I had to do it. I come from a small country and when one of the biggest clubs in the world came in for me, it was my dream.”
KANE
SPURS (2009-) No trophies GAMES 198 GOALS 136
JUAN MATA is convinced it is only a matter of time before Premier League matches are played abroad.
Although plans for a ‘39th game’ are currently shelved, the Manchester United midfielder believes top-flight games in foreign climes will happen “sooner rather than later”.
With sports like the NFL having already hosted games outside of the US, Mata reckons it is inevitable that commercial and financial demands will lead football down the same path.
“This is something that might happen eventually,” said Mata (above). “It will be great for our fans around the world to see us play live, for competitive points.
“It will be difficult to organise, so there’s a little bit of a discussion needed, but it will happen.”
Mata, 31, is tempted to manage after he hangs up his boots but warned: “Your life is constantly questioned and it’s a very demanding job, in terms of the hours you have to put in, and the pressure.”