![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/why-james-maddison-wore-no-71-on-tottenham-debut-as-fans-share-harry-kane-transfer-theory/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2_Why-James-Maddison-wore-No71-on-Tottenham-debut-as-fans-share-Harry-Kane-transfer-theory.jpg&description=All eyes were on James Maddison as he made his Tottenham debut in a pre-season friendly against West Ham - a matter of weeks since he signed for Spurs from Leicester Tottenham fans were left baffled after James Maddison was handed the no.71 shirt for his debut against West Ham on Tuesday. The 26-year-old was named in Ange Postecoglou's first XI as Spurs boss following his £40m switch from Leicester last month. Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp made up a dynamic midfield-three, with Manor Solomon, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane starting up front. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguillon and new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario were also chosen by Postecoglou for their opening pre-season friendly. There was no place for Heung min-Son, while Richarlison, Giovanni Lo Celso and Pierre Emile-Hojberg were among the substitutes. But all the attention was on Maddison for his debut - and eagled-eyed Spurs supporters spotted Maddison's shirt number before the team was announced. A photo was posted from the official Tottenham Twitter account which showed Maddison's shirt in the dressing room, with the no.71 on the back. Many Tottenham fans could not believe what they were seeing, but Spurs had said a couple of days ago that the new signings were going to wear temporary numbers before they take their actual ones. Fellow new arrival Soloman was handed the no.72 shirt, while Vicario, who signed from Empoli, wore no.13. Despite Tottenham's statement on Friday, one Spurs fan claimed that Maddison could be in fact biding his time for his favoured No.10 should Kane decide to leave Tottenham this summer. N17_Acky said: "Can't help but notice Maddison 71, hope it's not a sign he's waiting for 10..." Kane's future is still up the air despite returning to Tottenham ahead of their pre-season tour in Australia. The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich as Thomas Tuchel's side plot a move for the forward, who has one year left on his cont){kind=link}
All eyes were on James Maddison as he made his Tottenham debut in a pre-season friendly against West Ham – a matter of weeks since he signed for Spurs from Leicester
Tottenham fans were left baffled after James Maddison was handed the no.71 shirt for his debut against West Ham on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old was named in Ange Postecoglou’s first XI as Spurs boss following his £40m switch from Leicester last month. Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp made up a dynamic midfield-three, with Manor Solomon, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane starting up front.
Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguillon and new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario were also chosen by Postecoglou for their opening pre-season friendly. There was no place for Heung min-Son, while Richarlison, Giovanni Lo Celso and Pierre Emile-Hojberg were among the substitutes.
But all the attention was on Maddison for his debut – and eagled-eyed Spurs supporters spotted Maddison’s shirt number before the team was announced. A photo was posted from the official Tottenham Twitter account which showed Maddison’s shirt in the dressing room, with the no.71 on the back.