I was in London, and we were unaware’: Harry Kane discusses Bayern Munich transfer saga

 

Harry Kane found himself uncertain about the success of his transfer from Tottenham to Bayern Munich after a turbulent and emotionally charged 48 hours.

Kane's journey over the past three days has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride, ever since Spurs and the German club reached an agreement on the transfer fee last Thursday. The culmination of this whirlwind was the grand unveiling of the England captain in front of the media on Sunday afternoon.

By that point, he had already marked his debut, making a substitution appearance during the second half of the DFL-Supercup match. However, Kane's pursuit of his first-ever silverware remained unfulfilled, as Bayern suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of RB Leipzig.

Kane faced a race against the clock to complete his registration in time for the match, a situation intensified by his delayed flight to Germany and the subsequent medical examination. Spurs found themselves returning to the negotiation table at the eleventh hour, further delaying the process. Despite the challenges, the £100 million deal was eventually finalized. Yet, Kane openly confesses that he experienced moments of nervous anticipation during this period.

"It was certainly a hectic couple of days, an eventful week. This is my inaugural experience with a transfer, and it definitely brought its share of highs and lows. Nonetheless, I'm thrilled to be here now," he remarked. "While I extend my best wishes to Tottenham and Daniel Levy, my complete focus is directed here, toward contributing to this team. I'm genuinely elated that we pulled it off, and I'm eagerly looking forward to embarking on this new chapter.

"Discussions have been ongoing for several months, and I consistently maintained that if an arrangement could benefit all parties involved, I was open to it. Entering the final year of my contract, I was keen on avoiding any distractions for Tottenham's new manager and the team. The prospect of coming here excited me.

"The last 48 hours leading up to the deal were quite tumultuous, a real roller coaster. However, when we finally crossed the finish line, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Just two days ago, I was in London, uncertain about the outcome."

The 30-year-old, who established himself as Tottenham's all-time leading scorer during the previous season, bids farewell to a club he joined at the age of 11—a place where he held strong aspirations of capturing silverware.

Over the past few seasons, it gradually became evident that he wouldn't be able to realize his aspirations with Spurs. With just a year remaining on his contract, he recognized that the moment had arrived to transition onward, despite not having the opportunity to bid a farewell.

"It's undeniably a challenging choice to make. I spent 19 years of my life at Tottenham, and the club is deeply intertwined with my emotions and sentiments," he expressed. "I maintained a professional approach, consistently pushing myself to my limits. However, I arrived at the conclusion that the timing was opportune. I aspired to compete at the highest echelons, in the Champions League, contending for titles annually. When Bayern reached out and I contemplated it, the decision became clear to me.

"I wasn't granted the chance to bid a proper farewell. I sent a message to the group conveying my departure, and when the opportunity arises to return, I'll visit to say my farewells in person. Not solely to my fellow players, but to the entire staff—the cooks, the kit personnel, the physiotherapists—individuals with whom I've shared 15 years of my life. The whirlwind nature of the situation prevented me from that, but undoubtedly, in the upcoming weeks, I'll find the time."

Kane departs the Premier League, a mere 48 goals away from surpassing Alan Shearer's all-time record. He hinted at the possibility of returning someday with the intention of eclipsing the accomplishments of the former Newcastle and Blackburn striker.

"While Shearer's name is often mentioned, I possess a significant portion of my footballing career ahead of me," he remarked. "At present, my sole focus is on striving to achieve milestones here, elevating both myself and the team to unprecedented heights for this club."

Kane's transition to Germany is further complicated by the fact that his wife, Kate, is currently in the advanced stages of pregnancy with their fourth child. Kate, along with their young family, is scheduled to return to London on Monday, and a decision is pending regarding the location for her childbirth.

"My wife, Kate, has been incredibly supportive. She wants the best for my career and me, so she encouraged me to pursue this opportunity. She's focused on my happiness and playing, which is why we ultimately arrived at this decision," Kane elaborated.

Bayern's acquisition of Kane signifies a significant declaration of intent, reflecting their determination to reassert their dominance in European competition following a couple of challenging seasons in the Champions League. However, their most notable triumph might lie in the successful completion of amicable negotiations with Tottenham's chairman, Levy—a feat that has proven elusive for numerous other clubs.

CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Levy developed such a rapport that Dreesen plans to take him out for dinner.

He remarked, "Daniel and I grew closer over the past few weeks, that's certain. The negotiation was quite demanding; Daniel is an amiable individual, yet he's resolute in his desires. Hence, two individuals who held firm stances converged, leading to a somewhat extended process. However, in the end, both of us hold positive sentiments, which is why I'll be treating him to dinner."

Meanwhile, back at Spurs, the newly appointed captain, Son Heung-min, holds the belief that Richarlison could aid the club in filling the void left by Kane's departure.

Prior to their Premier League clash against Brentford, Son shared with Sky Sports, "We're well aware that we've bid farewell to one of the globe's finest strikers. Nonetheless, I believe we possess a quality player to step into his shoes.

"Naturally, H (Kane) has an impressive track record of goals, thus every member of the attacking lineup needs to shoulder the significant duty of contributing goals."