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Without Fernando Llorente, Tottenham Hotspur wouldn’t be in the Champions League final this weekend.

Spurs have managed to come through a knockout run that has featured games against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax and, at every turn, Llorente has been integral to their success.

The 34-year-old was signed in 2017 as back-up to Harry Kane and he has performed admirably throughout his spell but it has been in Europe this season where he has truly thrived.

Having laid on a vital group stage assist against PSV Eindhoven, he scored the third goal in the 3-0 thumping of Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, a clever header at the near post.

Against City, his importance was brought into sharp focus. Coming on as a substitute, he netted the vital third goal in Spurs’ 4-3 defeat, diverting a corner past Ederson with a combination of his hip and his arm. A VAR review confirmed the goal, referee Cuneyt Cakir allowing it to stand despite the minor contribution of Llorente’s elbow.

In the semi-finals, it was the former Swansea City striker who changed the game again, coming on as a substitute at half-time as a replacement to Victor Wanyama.

Against Matthijs De Ligt, perhaps the best young centre-back in world football, Llorente was utterly dominant, ultimately winning the knockdown that led to Lucas Moura’s scarcely believable hat-trick goal in the final minute of injury time.

This is a player whose contract expires in the summer and this could well be his swansong.

It is unlikely, actually, that Llorente will play any part. If Harry Kane is fit, he should start, while Lucas is likely to be the sacrificial lamb and, later on, the impact substitute.

There has been much debate over whether or not that is fair on the Brazilian after his sensational display in Amsterdam.

But one also has to ask whether Llorente deserves to sit out the entirety of the final.

It must be said that it is not the biggest game of his career; he was a member of the Spain squad that won the World Cup in 2010 and he also won the European Championship in 2012. But, even so, the veteran striker has been perhaps the best signing Spurs have made in recent years, purely in terms of value.

He could yet play a key role. Manager Mauricio Pochettino could yet decide, if Liverpool are ahead, to roll the dice and throw Llorente on.

He will know that his deal is coming to an end soon and he could well be singing for his supper in Madrid, desperately trying to earn that fresh contract.

If he does it, he’ll deserve a statue too.