Wayne Rooney has urged Harry Kane to turn down interest from Barcelona and complete a move to Manchester United to break Alan Shearer's goalscoring record in the Premier League. Kane has taken German football by storm since leaving Tottenham to join Bayern Munich back in 2023, scoring 146 goals in 147 appearances and helping the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles.
Barcelona's audacious move for Kane
There is mounting speculation that the England captain, widely considered among the finest centre-forwards in the world, could be on the move this summer. Reports indicate that La Liga champions Barcelona have launched an audacious move to prise Kane away from the Allianz Arena, making contact with the striker's representatives to gauge his potential availability.
Bayern Munich are adamant that Kane remains happy in Munich and confident the 32-year-old will commit his future to the club beyond the end of next season, when his current contract is due to expire.
Rooney's pitch to Kane
Should Kane seek a fresh challenge elsewhere, Rooney suggested Manchester United as an ideal next step for his former England team-mate. The Red Devils have intermittently been credited with an interest in Kane down the years and briefly explored a move for him in 2023, before focusing efforts on signing Rasmus Hojlund.
Asked for his reaction to reports linking Barcelona with Kane, Rooney said on his BBC podcast: 'I think everyone would have an interest. Listen, if Harry Kane's not going to stay at Bayern Munich then I'd love him at Manchester United. If he's listening: "Harry, you've got Alan Shearer's record there… help get Manchester United back!"'
Rooney added: 'You think for Harry Kane, he's won the Bundesliga and let's say he goes to Barcelona, he wins La Liga… deep down he wants to win the Premier League. Imagine he comes to Manchester United and he's the one to drive that, to get Manchester United back to winning the league.'
Kane's role in England's World Cup hopes
Rooney – England's second highest goalscorer of all time – believes Kane will have an instrumental role if England are to bring their 60-year wait for World Cup glory to an end this summer. 'If we win the tournament then it's because of them, more so Harry Kane from my point of view,' he explained. 'I think Jude [Bellingham] is one of those players who lifts his team-mates, probably not even knowing he's doing it, in terms of desire and hunger. Harry is the one who you're relying on with his goals.'
Rooney added: 'Jude will have big moments and he'll win us the game at some point, but Harry's goals will be the one thing, I think, which if we win the tournament then it will be because of Harry's goals. But there will be one game, it might be a semi-final, where it's tight and that's where Jude will go and take the game.'
