Fernando Llorente stated that Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. Diario AS reported the remarks from the former Spain international, who played alongside Kane at Tottenham Hotspur from 2017 to 2019 under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Shared Dressing Room at Tottenham Hotspur
Llorente joined Tottenham in 2017 from Swansea City to provide a different tactical option in the team’s attack. During their two seasons together, the partnership combined Kane’s mobility and goalscoring output with Llorente’s aerial strength and hold-up play. Their time together peaked during the 2018-19 campaign, when Tottenham reached the Champions League final before losing to Liverpool. Injuries to Kane during that run forced Llorente into a prominent role in several decisive fixtures, most notably in the tie against Manchester City, where his goal secured qualification for the spurs.
Fernando Llorente scored a bigger goal for Spurs than Harry Kane ever did. Fact. https://t.co/75gPvwk9Pz pic.twitter.com/vkLTeZZNj5
Praise for Work Ethic and Humility
Reflecting on his former teammate, Llorente highlighted Kane’s dedication behind the scenes. “He deserves the Ballon d’Or. I am enormously happy for him, he has earned it through sheer hard work, he is a fabulous guy, a professional like few I have seen,” Llorente told AS. The Spanish striker recalled how Kane would regularly stay out on the training pitches alone during afternoons to hone his finishing. Llorente also pointed to Kane’s character, noting that his humility and family values stood out during their time together in England.
Historical Parallels in Athletic Bilbao
While Llorente discussed his former club colleague, milestones closer to home also marked the weekend. Llorente missed Athletic Bilbao’s league match against Real Sociedad at San Mamés due to prior commitments, watching the derby from home instead. During that fixture, forward Iñaki Williams scored his 118th goal for Athletic, tying him with Llorente, Manu Sarabia, and Carlos Ruiz for 14th place on the club’s all-time scoring list.
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