Rooney prediction about Harry Kane speaks volumes amid Man Utd links

‘A dream becomes reality’ – Harry Kane proud in becoming England’s all-time record scorer

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As Harry Kane celebrated becoming England’s all-time record goalscorer on Thursday night against Italy, Wayne Rooney had the foresight to predict the striker would break his record several years ago. Perhaps it would be a fitting tribute to the Manchester United hero then if the Tottenham star tried to follow his predecessor to Old Trafford this summer as speculation over his future refuses to die down.

Kane struck home confidently from the penalty spot to score his 54th goal for England on his 81st appearance for his country in the 2-1 win, making history some three months after equalling Rooney’s feat at the World Cup in Qatar.

There was no hint of a shock from the 37-year-old – now head coach of MLS side D.C. United – who described how he initially predicted Kane would be the one to take his record eight years ago.

“When I broke the England goalscoring record, with a penalty against Switzerland in September 2015, Harry Kane was the first player to run over and celebrate with me,” Rooney wrote in his column for The Times. “I later mentioned Harry in the speech I made in the dressing room. I said that I hoped the young players in the squad would come close to the record themselves, and even be able to surpass me.

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“Harry had scored only three England goals at that point — but I said those words because I knew he could do it. Even then, with only four caps under his belt, I knew he could become England’s greatest scorer if he kept going the way he was and I wanted to give him encouragement.”

Now that the 29-year-old has both the privilege of being England’s record goalscorer and matching the achievement with Tottenham, there isn’t much else Kane can achieve in individual terms. The only missing silverware from his cabinet is a trophy won with a team, having suffered defeats in the League Cup, Champions League and Euro 2020 finals in his career so far.

If there was a certain inevitability attached to Kane breaking his record, some may feel the same applies to him following Rooney to Old Trafford. While Spurs look further from ending their barren run without a trophy than they did before, United appear to be heading back to the top of English football under Erik ten Hag.

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The Dutchman claimed the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge, ending a six-year wait for United to win silverware. Reports suggest United will launch a bid this summer and possibly include Dean Henderson in part-exchange to test Tottenham’s resolve, and with Kane leading the line, the possibilities are endless.

Steven Gerrard suggested on Thursday night that it may be time for Kane to go. Of course, the Liverpool hero faced a similar dilemma in his career when Chelsea made a serious offer to sign him from the Reds, but after much deliberation, he decided to stay at Anfield.

Gerrard went on to win the Champions League and FA Cup, but he had more time to wait than Kane to see how it would turn out. This summer, the striker is at a crossroads.

When discussing if he felt upset by Kane taking his record, Rooney said he was proud to see his achievement surpassed but admitted not every player feels the same. And he suggested there are some comparisons between his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Kane in their relentless pursuit to write their names in the history books.

“I know Sir Bobby Charlton was actually a bit sad when I broke his England record and then his all-time Manchester United scoring record too. I could see it meant a lot to him,” he added. “Then I think of Ronaldo. He absolutely loves breaking records and wants to have every record there is. There’s nothing wrong with that. It gives him motivation. And maybe Harry is more like him than me.”

Perhaps the next move for Kane to truly test himself is to get the same taste of playing in the red shirt at Old Trafford as Ronaldo and Rooney did, as he sets his sights on toppling Alan Shearer’s Premier League record. With it, he might just finally claim the trophy that has eluded him for his career so far.

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