Florentino Perez has dampened speculation that Real Madrid are poised to make a move for Harry Kane, reports BBC Sport.
In recent weeks, the rumour mill has been grinding out stories suggesting the Tottenham goal machine has caught the eye of Los Galacticos.
However, speaking during his visit to London to watch Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane collect awards at Fifa’s annual La Liga love-in ceremony, the club’s president appeared to rule out a bid.
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“Signing Harry Kane has not passed through my head,” he told Spain’s Cadena Cope radio station. “He is a great player and in addition, he is young. He has many years to progress. But we are delighted with [Karim] Benzema and with all of the team.”
Benzema has been fingered by the Spanish press as the forward most likely to be sacrificed in any potential swoop for Kane so Perez’s mention of him was probably a calculated move on the president’s part, given that the Frenchman has been linked once more to Arsenal.
But Perez added there was another reason Real were unlikely to approach Tottenham, one that concerned Daniel Levy, Spurs’s no-nonsense chairman.
“If I ask [about Kane] he’ll tell me €250m (£223m),” said the Spaniard, who knows Levy well after Real took Luka Modric and Gareth Bale off his hands. “We have built up a very good friendship,” he added. “Every time we win the European Cup, he tells me the same thing, 'Thank you for winning the European Cup with my players.’”
Perez will be able to get a close look at Kane next week, when the two sides meet at Wembley in the Champions League, a match for which the England striker should be fresh after sitting out tonight’s league cup tie against West Ham.
