Dear Harry,
You do not know me. We have never met, and are unlikely to do so in the future. Yet you have been a key part of my life and that of my family for the last decade.
Who would have thought that the boy I saw have his penalty saved against Hearts in the Europa League qualifier, would be the man to fill the Gareth Bale hole in my heart several years later.
Over the last decade, we have been through so much together and you have provided so many exhilarating moments. We all know, despite what you said on the Hot Ones interview, that your favourite goal was the sweet, sweet strike against Arsenal – mask and all!
But sadly Harry, it looks like once again you are looking to walk out on this relationship. You are willing to cast aside what we have to try something new.
It is something we’ve been through before – one cannot simply forget that interview with Gary Neville on the Overlap. On that carefree saunter around the golf course, you made it quite clear that your eyes were wandering and your heart yearned for something else – and in doing so, broke ours.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and a part of me feels that you should have gone then. In the warm embrace of Pep, you could have already broken the scoring record, and undoubtedly your trophy cabinet would hold more than just individual awards.
But you didn’t. You stayed. Leaving us, the fanbase, never completely sure about you and your future. We had moments where we thought all would be fine and that a new contract would be signed and we would never have to question your commitment again.
Daniel brought in Conte, to demonstrate the club’s ambition – to no avail. Even beating Jimmy Greaves’ epic scoring record only provided a temporary respite from the inevitable deluge of transfer rumours that were building up; lurking in the shadows never too far from emerging.
So here we are. The Ange revolution is well underway and the fan base is beginning to heal after four years of disappointment and false dawns. There are green shoots of growth and positivity.
Yet those shoots are being prevented from growing by the shade cast over them. This shade is being created by the deafening silence coming from you about your future.
But what truly are your options? This summer you have a choice of one. Bayern Munich.
Admittedly they are a very strong team and you are more than likely to rack up several domestic honours in Germany. Who knows, they also have an outside shot at the Champions League.
A golden boot in the German league also looks a shoo-in, excuse the pun, but you already have several of those. I, like many fans, just can’t see the appeal. When we see those mock-ups of you in a Bayern shirt – it just does not look right.
Surely, the best thing you could do for all involved is to just wait and see. Give Tottenham one last chance. Announce to the world that you’re not going anywhere this summer.
Just by issuing that statement, the circus will leave town and allow and Ange and the club to focus on the upcoming season and ensure radio show cretins can look for their next target to sink their talons into.
When next summer comes, you will have your pick of any clubs in the world. Barcelona have already shown signs of interest, and if Mbappe does not join Real Madrid, then I am sure you would have little problem wrestling the starting position from Joselu.
If we are honest, your options in England are limited. The move to City made sense two years ago – but now with Haaland in place and Pep seeing out his time, it looks less likely.
Arsenal and Chelsea are not options; we know how much you value your legacy with this club. So where does it leave you? Newcastle are cash rich, but definitely no guarantee of silverware.
Liverpool? Possibly – but I’m not sure how much Mo Salah enjoys sharing a spotlight with anyone. Manchester United? One of the biggest clubs in the world, but really are they that much more likely to win major honours than Tottenham?
Their fan base and former players (most of whom are mentally still rooted in the halcyon days of Sir Alex) might tell you so – even suggesting that you are little more than a prisoner shackled to a goalpost by ‘COYS Daniel’ (The Athletic).
But the reality is, they are scrabbling around for Manchester City’s scraps, like every other Premier League club.
There is also the possibility of staying – and would that be so bad? You are already a club legend and I am sure the statue is already in the planning stages.
People (mainly in the narrative-driven media) hark on and on about winning trophies. But being a one-club man and being the star player throughout surely trumps that. John O’Shea and Nicky Butt have cabinets brimming with trophies, but in fifty years’ time, who will people remember them or players like Matt le Tissier (hopefully for his football and not his dubious recent views).
You could be our Francesco Totti – immortalised as the ultimate Mr Tottenham, sacrificing everything for the club you have supported since being a boy, according to the book ‘Kane: Ultimate Football Heroes’, which I read to my son regularly.
But maybe I am being fanciful and a touch romantic, but if you see out your career at Tottenham breaking all scoring records in the process, you will achieve heights of adoration and respect from the fans that have worshipped you for years that very few will experience. Rarified air indeed.
You won’t be able to put it in a cabinet, but unwavering love and respect hold a great deal more value.
But I have to be realistic and acknowledge that you may leave us. I mentioned earlier about Gareth Bale, but the truth is as a fan, our hearts are constantly being broken.
In my lifetime, I have had to deal with the losses of Klinsmann, Sheringham, Keane, Carrick, Modric, Bale and Berbatov. Each one hurt, some more than others, but always another name emerges to replace them.
With you this is different. You are one of our own, someone who came through the academy to scale the impossible heights through talent, hard work and dedication. The pain will be deep and difficult to overcome, despite the false bravado many of our fans spout.
If you decide to move on, that is your prerogative, and thus I leave you with this: Show the fans respect. Articulate what you are feeling and what you want to do – and not hide behind silence or the loudmouth blabbering of others.
We are not naïve enough to realise that in this situation there are many moving parts and complexities. Agents, chairmen, and clubs all working to get their pound of flesh from the situation.
However, do not sully your reputation with an undignified exit from the club. The majority of fans will be understanding and will try and see things from your perspective. You will always hold a place in our hearts.
Please do what’s right for you – but do it the right way.
All the Best,
PS – If you do leave, please could you explain it to my seven-year-old son as that is a conversation I really do not want to have!
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