Phil Neville has made the contentious claim that Harry Kane may need to quit Tottenham in order to be considered a “world class” player.
The former England defender suggested that Kane is playing at a level below the super clubs like his own former employers Manchester United.
Neville made the observation in the immediate aftermath of Spurs’ 3-1 Champions League win against German big hitters Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Kane scored twice to give lift-off to his team’s European campaign and take his personal club goal haul to four for the season, all of which have come in the past two matches.
The England international has now netted a remarkable 103 times for Spurs in just 170 matches as well as 10 times from 21 England appearances and many regard him as one of the outstanding strikers in world football.
Neville took a different stance after the latest demonstration of Kane’s ability.
“He could have to leave Spurs to become that real top, top, world class, Lewandowski type player, he could,” said Neville on Radio Five Live on Wednesday night.
The former United and Everton full-back says that the very best players have proved themselves at the biggest clubs in world football.
He added to Radio Five Live: “I was at Manchester United at the time when we were scouting players at Borussia Dortmund like Kagawa, like Reus, Lewandowski was there and there was always that doubt. And there’ll always be a doubt, probably, about Harry Kane until he gets to that level.”
OPINION
What a load of nonsense from Neville, who is not only his brother Gary’s inferior as a player but also as a pundit. Anyone with eyes and an acquaintance with Kane’s performances and achievements in the last three years can plainly see he is already one of the world’s outstanding players. Not just strikers. What would moving to a so-called super club like Man United or Real Madrid change about that? Spurs have challenged strongly for the title in the last two seasons – something that has been beyond United – and have finally bared their teeth in the Champions League with their win against Dortmund. They are already playing on Europe’s highest club stage. Neville is miles off with this comment.