Kane ‘on Super Cup roster’ shortly after signing four-year deal with Munich… ‘challenging’ to win first title of his career

Harry Kane’s arrival at Bayern Munich was met with cheers from the Bavarian hierarchy and satisfaction from Kane. Kane was immediately named in the Super Cup squad, putting him one day away from winning the trophy of his dreams.

“Munich has acquired Kane from Tottenham,” the club announced on its official website on 12 December. Kane has signed a four-year contract with the Bavarians until June 2027,” the club announced on its official website.

Kane had been heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham in the summer transfer window, but the official announcement from the Bavarians ended the saga, with Kane leaving Spurs for Munich. The transfer fee was not revealed by the club itself, but reports in Germany and the UK have suggested it could be in the region of £120 million.

A shirt number has also been revealed. Kane has been given the number 9, which he uses for the England national team, rather than the number 10 he wore at Tottenham. The number nine position was left vacant when Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona ahead of the 2022/23 season, and Kane’s arrival fills both the number and the power void left by Lewandowski.

Kane has not officially handed in a transfer request, but his desire to move to Munich has been consistently reported.

“Munich are working on the final transfer details,” German outlet Bild reported at the time of Kane’s transfer talks, adding that “Kane’s brother Charlie Kane and father Pat manage his agent’s fees. “Munich are in talks with Tottenham and Kane’s family. Kane’s family is said to have pressurised Tottenham that he will leave on a free transfer if an agreement is not reached,” revealing that Kane and his family had pressurised Spurs for a move this summer.

“I spoke to him on the first day and I got an indication that he would leave if the two clubs agreed,” Postecoglou said at his pre-match press conference on 11 November.

Based on what Postecoglou said in his pre-match press conference, it appears that Kane made it clear in his first meeting with Postecoglou that he was open to leaving the club if Tottenham and Munich could agree.

In both his pre-movement interview and his official post-movement interview, Kane expressed mixed feelings about Tottenham and his joy at joining Munich.

Speaking to British outlet Sky Sports as he arrived at the airport to catch his flight to Munich, Kane said it was “with a heavy heart and mixed emotions” but that it was “very difficult to turn down this move” and that while it was difficult to turn down the move to Munich, he was not happy to leave Tottenham.

However, Kane also revealed his obvious delight at joining the club in his pre-movement interview: “I’m very happy to be part of Munich. Munich is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I have always said that I want to prove myself at the highest level. This club is defined by its winning mentality. It’s a great feeling to be here,” said Kane himself of his delight at joining Munich.온라인카지노

Once Kane’s move was officially announced, the Bavarian hierarchy were equally delighted with the signing.

Munich president Herbert Heynckes said: “Welcome to Munich. We are very happy that a player of the highest quality has arrived in Munich. It was a transfer that required persistence and patience. We are confident that Kane, who was brought in by CEO Jan Christian Dresden, will not only strengthen Munich, but will also be a real asset for the entire Bundesliga,” said Heiner, who is confident that Kane will be a great addition to the team and establish himself as a star player for the Bundesliga.

CEO Dresden, who spearheaded the signing, was equally impressed. “It’s been a long process, but I’m delighted that Kane is pulling on the Munich shirt. Kane was our absolute dream player. He fits perfectly with our DNA,” said Dresden, congratulating Kane on his signing.

“Whenever Munich celebrates great victories, a world-class centre-forward has always been an important element. We are confident that Kane will continue this success. The Munich fans can look forward to one of the best goalies of our time,” he said, adding that Kane will be a major boost to the club’s title challenge next season.

Munich also took note of Kane’s career. “Kane is Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer with 280 goals. He was the Premier League’s top scorer in 2016, 2017 and 2021 and is the second highest scorer in league history behind Alan Shearer. He is the captain of England and has scored 58 goals in 84 caps to date, making him England’s most capped player. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he scored six goals and won the Golden Boot,” he said, noting Kane’s career and achievements.

Kane’s arrival in Munich also gives him the chance to win his first trophy.

Kerry Howe, a senior reporter for German outlet Sport1, wrote on social media on 12 December: “Munich have signed Kane at the right time. Kane will be on the roster for the Super Cup,” suggesting that Kane could play in the Super Cup.

Initially, Kane had to be on the roster by 3pm German local time on the 12th to be eligible to play in the Super Cup for Munich, but it appears that the club confirmed the roster by announcing the signing of Kane.

If Kane does play and Munich defeat Leipzig, he will have escaped the purgatory of irrelevance that has plagued him for 12 years since his professional debut, just five hours after joining the club.

British outlet Sky Sports had already reported that “Kane is hoping to make his Munich debut on Saturday”, suggesting that the player’s desire to play is so strong that a debut could come quickly.

It is possible that Kane could play alongside Kim Min-Jae in his first game in Munich. According to German outlet Bild, the expected starting line-up includes Kim and Fabar in defence.

Meanwhile, Kane’s move hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Munich faced many difficulties and took a long time to negotiate with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who is notoriously difficult in European football transfer markets.

Levy rejected Munich’s initial offer of €70 million outright, and a second offer of €80 million with options was made, but even this did not satisfy Spurs.

Levy refused to let Kane leave easily, despite pressure from the owners. When news broke that Kane had turned down a new contract with Spurs, owner Joe Louis personally pressured Levy to sell him rather than let him leave on a free transfer, but Levy stood his ground, hoping for more transfer revenue and a possible re-signing.

Munich were determined to keep upping the ante and tried to persuade Tottenham until the last minute.

“Kane is expecting his future to be decided this weekend, with Munich offering Tottenham a £86m fee for the England international,” said British outlet The Sun. “Munich are hoping the deal will be resolved by the weekend. Including a further option of £17m, Munich’s offer exceeds £100m,” he said, explaining the size of the Kane deal.

It was later reported that Levy was furious at the pressure on him to make a decision, and that he even went on holiday to the United States to ignore Munich’s offer, but he eventually accepted Munich’s bid for Kane.

“Munich have agreed a deal with Tottenham for Kane,” global sports outlet The Athletic reported on the 10th, “Munich have agreed a deal with Tottenham for Kane. The Bavarians’ offer, worth more than €100 million, has been accepted by Tottenham, and now Kane must decide whether to join the club,” indicating that the transfer has entered the final stages.

“Kane has agreed to join Munich and has been offered a four-year contract,” The Athletic said on 11 November. Kane is awaiting a medical from Tottenham and the green light to complete the move,” adding that Kane had agreed to move to Munich and that the transfer was effectively imminent.

It wasn’t all plain sailing until the end. Kane and his wife, Katie Kane, left London’s Stansted Airport at 1am on 12 December and arrived in Munich at 3am. Munich had sent a plane to bring Kane to London the next day, the 11th, after Tottenham approved the move on the 10th. The problem was that midway through, news broke that Tottenham had reneged on the transfer agreement and asked for a renegotiation. Kane was reported to be waiting indefinitely near the airport, and Munich were said to be nervous, as they demanded terms and an additional transfer fee. However, Tottenham’s setback didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of Kane’s transfer.

From there, it was all about medicals. Florian Plettenberg, who covers Munich for Sky Sports in Germany, said on 12 December that “Kane has completed his first medical” and that “he will wear a shirt with the number 9 on it”, while German outlet Bild also reported that Kane had undergone a medical at Barmheiziger Hospital in Munich, suggesting that a move was imminent.

After completing his medical, Kane’s arrival has brought an end to a long and drawn-out transfer saga, and he will be looking to fulfil the promise he expressed in his pre-season interview.

With the signing of Kane making them one of the favourites for next season’s UEFA Champions League, the big question for Munich fans and other football fans alike will be whether they can put on a winning mentality this season with their dream player.

Photo: AFP, Reuters/Yonhap, Bayern Munich official website, Twitter