‘harry’s now got to make big call’

DIMITAR BERBATOV walked in Harry Kane’s shoes 13 years ago.

Just a few months after helping Tottenham beat favourites Chelsea to lift the League Cup at Wembley, Berbatov left to join Manchester United and “fight for the big trophies”.

And that is why the former Bulgaria striker, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, does not believe the Carabao Cup Final result today will have any influence on whether or not

Kane (above) leaves Spurs this summer to seek major silverware.

The team left behind by Jose Mourinho face a Manchester City side that would like to have Kane wearing a Sky Blue shirt next season.

But unlike 2008, when Berbatov’s decision to choose United over City was the epitome of a no-brainer, the options for the England captain are not so obvious. Berbatov said: “Back in 2008, I was Harry Kane.

“United and City wanted to sign me and I knew I had to leave if I wanted to win the big trophies.

“Harry is in a tough and delicate position – ‘Do I stay, do I go?’ I don’t think his choice will be decided by whether Tottenham win or lose the Carabao Cup.

“Harry is 27. He is coming to the prime of his career and time waits for no one. He has a small window to make his mark.

“He is loved at Spurs. So perhaps Harry will be thinking, ‘I don’t need to win trophies when I can stay here to break records and become an even bigger legend.’

“Or maybe he will be thinking, ‘I have done what I can here. Now it’s time to move to the next chapter and win big trophies.’

“He needs to be careful because if he joins a club that doesn’t win things he will have big regrets.”

Berbatov scored Tottenham’s 70th-minute equaliser before they beat Chelsea 2-1 in extra-time in 2008 – the last trophy won by Spurs (below).

At the end of that season, Sir Alex Ferguson came calling for the Bulgarian, only for City’s new owners from Abu Dhabi to make an 11th-hour deadline day bid. Berbatov added: “My decision was easy. United were the best team in the country and were winning trophies every year.

“Now City are in that dominant position. United haven’t won the league for almost eight years.

“It hurts me to say it as a former United player, but going to Old Trafford now would be a gamble because it might take years for them to win the title.

“If he goes to City, he knows he will win. But you must remember that Daniel Levy is going to ask for so much money that maybe a transfer becomes impossible.”

Berbatov did not agree with Levy’s decision to sack Mourinho just six days before this final and hand the reigns to Ryan Mason and Chris Powell.

He said: “In my opinion, it wasn’t fair to sack Jose.

“He deserved more respect. He deserved the chance to win the final. It’s a decision that could interfere with the players’ minds.

“Some of them might have liked him, some will not have liked him, so the team could be divided.

“But finals are about who wants it more and so maybe they can use the sacking of Jose and turn it into a benefit.”