Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon hailed Harry Kane as a natural-born goalscorer, who could
guarantee the keeper’s long career comes to a close at the end of the season.
The Juventus legend will quit in the summer unless he wins the Champions League for the first time at the age of 40.
And Buffon, who has never won a European club trophy for the Turin club, will face Kane’s Tottenham in the first knockout round in February.
The England centre-forward has made headlines all over Europe with his 56 goals this year – more than Lionel Messi.
And the Serie A superstar said Kane has earned the right to be compared with the great names in the game.
“Harry is now one of the best strikers in Europe – there is no question about that,” said Buffon. “As a player, you can always work on parts of your game and try to improve – but there are some things you can’t teach.
“That natural goalscoring instinct is for me a talent that you are born with. I have seen over the years with Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Batistuta, they have that natural instinct that can really make goalkeepers suffer – and it’s clear Kane also has that.
“Always in my career I have wanted to test myself against the best – and now Harry Kane is one of the best. I have always had the attitude that I don’t fear the best – I respect them – and I always want to play against them.
“That is one of the greatest challenges of playing at the highest level, to test yourself against the best players – that is always something I have enjoyed.”
Buffon retired from international football after last month’s World Cup heartache of losing a play-off to Sweden. But last June he said this season was “99.9 per cent certain” to be his curtain call, unless a Champions League victory saw Juventus qualify for the Club World Cup next year.
The next step is the first leg against Tottenham on February 13.
“They are going to be two hard games against Tottenham – we know that,” he added. “Kane will be a big threat but they are not just Kane.
“As always, it is my dream to win the Champions League – I don’t allow it to be a pressure – but it still remains a big ambition.”
Kane’s record-breaking season is ending on a rare low note as he missed training yesterday with a heavy cold and is a doubt for Swansea on Tuesday night.
“He is at home because he cannot move,” said Mauricio Pochettino. “We will see tomorrow if he comes to training but I don’t know whether he will be available or not.”
With Virgil van Dijk costing £75m, the Spurs boss was asked how much Kane would be worth.
“If an offer arrived, maybe we will see if it is the right offer or not,” Pochettino said.
“If it is £100m, £300m, £500m. But it is not reality because no one offered anything for the players.
“Do I trust Daniel Levy to say no? Of course!”