Tottenham Hotspur pair Harry Kane and Dele Alli have been tipped to play pivotal roles for England in the coming years, by the man widely considered to be football’s greatest ever player.
Brazilian legend Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, told The Sun that he has been impressed by Spurs this season, and feels that the 22-year-old striker and 19-year-old midfielder have stood out.
Pele reckons that Kane and Alli can lead England’s new generation, but believes that the amount of foreign players in the Premier League will harm the Three Lions’ chances of glory.
And there is one Premier League player who Pele admires more than the Tottenham duo – Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who is heading the talent in the current-day Brazil team.
The Sun quotes Pele as saying: “I am really impressed by Tottenham this season. The players who have stood out, particularly, are Alli and Kane. They represent the new generation for the national team.
“There is no doubt that today the strongest and richest league in the world is in England.
“But it is the huge number of foreign players which makes your teams so strong, and that means the national team didn’t have so many to choose from.
“And for me, despite what I have seen with Kane and Alli, Philippe Coutinho stands out, and I keep a close eye on his development.”
Kane is the Premier League’s top goalscorer this season with 22 – a Tottenham record in the Premier League era – while Alli has been a sensation in his first season playing in the top flight.
After their rapid development, both are expected to play major roles for Roy Hodgson at Euro 2016 this summer, and, according to Pele, for years to come. If Pele says so, it must be true!
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