Harry Kane must go to Real Madrid if they come calling, says Woodgate

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

Harry Kane must accept any offers to go to Real Madrid if one presents itself, if he is to reach the levels of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to former Spurs and Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate.

Over the last few years Kane has developed into one of the most prolific forwards in world football, but as of yet he has not won any major honours in his career despite his goalscoring exploits with Tottenham.

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There have been suggestions that he will have to move on from Spurs in order to start tallying up the medals, and Woodgate reckons that Real Madrid might be a potential destination, should they look to make Kane a new ‘Galactico’.

“If Real Madrid come in for you – especially Harry Kane – he has got to go,” Woodgate told Stadium Astro.

“If he wants to win trophies and get onto that next pedestal of Messi, Ronaldo and that type of player, he has to go.

“I don’t see him winning the league at Spurs, not this season and not in the next few seasons, they have got too much building to do to get up there with Liverpool and Man City. For me, if he wants to win the European Cup then he has got a chance of winning it at Real Madrid.”

In the 2020/21 campaign, Kane has evolved his game into playing in a more withdrawn role in the number 10 position, which has seen him lead the ranks for the most assists recorded in Europe’s top five leagues so far.

Woodgate thinks his performances have proved that, even when fellow elite strikers are fit, he remains the best striker in the league, and that he could potentially break Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goalscoring record.

Harry Kane: Snapshot

“I think his game has improved over the years,” the former England international continued.

“Harry Kane is an unbelievable No 9 but with the assists he has got this season, he can play 10. His passing and general play with his back to goal, he’s an exceptional footballer. He reminds me at times of Teddy Sheringham when he comes into those areas as a 10.

“For me, he is the best striker in the Premier League. Even when there is a fit [Sergio] Aguero, a fit Kane and fit [Jamie] Vardy, Kane is No 1 in the Premier League. He just gets better and better. He has a chance to break Alan Shearer’s record.”

Despite Woodgate’s comments and the continued suggestion that Kane might have to leave in order to win trophies, Spurs are reportedly set to offer their star forward a bumper new contract in order to ward off any suitors.