Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane ahead of his side's Champions League meeting with Man Utd: "Obviously over the summer I know there were some talks between a few clubs in the background, but Bayern were a team I was really interested and excited by"
Wednesday 20 September 2023 06:35, UK
Harry Kane maintains Bayern Munich always felt like the right choice for his next club as the England striker prepares to face Manchester United in the Champions League.
Kane left Tottenham for Bayern in a deal which could be worth up to £100m ahead of the summer transfer window closing.
Reports suggested United were one of the English clubs also interested in the 30-year-old forward.
"Obviously, over the summer I know there were some talks between a few clubs in the background, but Bayern were a team I was really interested and excited by," the England captain said ahead of Wednesday night's Group A opener at the Allianz Arena.
"There were not too many other discussions once they came in. It was between them and Tottenham to talk and then the deal got done.
"My focus is on here. Manchester United are a great club, a really big club as well. I just decided to come here and am really happy I have."
Kane could come up against England team-mate Harry Maguire, who was again singled out for criticism during last week's 3-1 friendly win over Scotland.
The England captain defended Maguire, saying he was one of his country's best ever defenders.
"I think H has come under some really unnecessary scrutiny," Kane said. "He has probably been scapegoated a bit in terms [for] the way the team have gone over recent times.
"He is a really good friend of mine. He is a great guy, a really hard-working professional.
"From an England point of view, he has been one of our best defenders in recent times - I would go as far as to say one of our best defenders over the history of our country in an England shirt.
"It is part of our game now, you are scrutinised all over social media. But, knowing him, all he will want to do is work harder, to improve and get better, stay focused.
"We are fully behind him as a national team. The coach (Gareth Southgate) came out and backed him fully.
"There is always going to be noise around players. We have a really strong core within our England team, which is the most important thing going into big games and tournaments."
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has revealed he inserted a buy-back clause in Harry Kane's Bayern Munich deal.
Levy reportedly made the comment - without providing further details - while appearing at a fans' forum on Tuesday night alongside current Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu.
Tottenham's record goalscorer ended his two-decade association with the club after joining the Bundesliga giants in a deal worth in the region of £100m.
Levy had been prompted to sell the unsettled striker in order to avoid the possibility of him running down his contract and leaving for nothing the following year.
Kane has made a good start to life in Germany.
He has scored four Bundesliga goals for Bayern, including in the 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night.
Kane, who is set to make his Champions League debut for Bayern on Wednesday, said: "Being here now, I am just enjoying the new surroundings. I have been back and forth with the internationals and the birth of my fourth child.
"I still don't feel I have fully settled into everything yet - that will take a bit more time - but over the course of the season I will get to know more about the club and speak to the big names who have played here before."
Kane added: "It has been a good start for me here. Whenever there is a big transfer, there is always a little bit more pressure and expectation going into the first few games to see how you start.
"I am really pleased to have scored the four goals so far. I think I can play better, and that will come with just getting to know my team-mates more, the system and the way we play. There is definitely room for improvement in my all-round game."
Despite Kane's departure, Tottenham have made an impressive start under new head coach Ange Postecoglou this season and are unbeaten in the Premier League with four wins to sit second.
Spurs travel to north London rivals Arsenal on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 2pm), and Kane insists he will keep an eye on his former club's results for the rest of his life.
"Fantastic start - I am always keeping an eye on them and think I will keep an eye on Tottenham for the rest of my life," Kane said.
"I am really happy to see the team playing the way they are and, of course, to see their fans happy as well is a great thing.
"I am sure they will be excited to keep that up. They have a massive game coming up (against Arsenal on Sunday), so for sure I will see how they get on over the course of the season."
Meanwhile, in his pre-Man Utd press conference, Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel insists every big club needing a striker would want to sign Harry Kane and that taking the England captain away from the premier League was a "big thing".
The former Chelsea boss said: "It's a big thing. We took the skipper of England out of England, out of the Premier League. It's a huge deal and a big transfer. We're very happy.
"Anyone in Europe who was looking for No 9 would have been happy to have Harry in the team. He makes your team better and gives you what you expect from a No 9: personality, goals, quality.
"He can drop deep in a No 10 position, turn and use the speed of the players around him. He can arrive in the box at the right time, he has excellent finishing, he's a good penalty taker, so everybody wanted to have him.
"I'm not sure about what was going on at other clubs but we are more than happy he took the decision to join us and make us better.
"He will always be a difference maker in any game, not only in the big games and not only by goals. He gives us a lot of personality. With time he will make our players around him better. He will learn how to make them shine, use their skills. He will assist and not only score. He will be the difference and he is already the difference.
"Not only him but he is part of us making the difference. That is very important and that's why we relied heavily on this transfer. That's why we had a lot of confidence we are doing the right thing. He will prove us right, I am 100 per cent convinced, there is no doubt about it."
