Arise King Kane! Harry has become an instant favourite at Bayern Munich as the England captain’s goalscoring exploits show no signs of slowing down on the continent
- Harry Kane has enjoyed a perfect start since joining Bayern Munich this summer
- The England captain has already netted 21 goals for the Bundesliga champions
- Southgate’s loyalty to his players is an issue and a weakness – It’s All Kicking Off
With a pair of white sliders on his record-breaking feet and decked in Bayern Munich’s slick all-black training jersey and shorts, Harry Kane strode nonchalantly through Bremen Airport on the morning after the night before.
His Bundesliga debut a matter of hours earlier, couldn’t have gone any better: a goal and assist in a 4-0 win over Werder Bremen. Some things never change.
But this was an airport experience altogether different from what Kane had grown accustomed to. Private jets and private terminals — that’s more his world.
Premier League players are protected from exposure perhaps more than any other footballers in the world.
But on the morning of August 19, Kane was fending for himself. Stepping off the team coach into the airport building, there was no hint of special treatment. No over-the-top security, no bodyguards. Just an ordinary member of the public trying to negotiate his way through airport security.
Harry Kane has enjoyed a flying start to life at Bayern Munich since joining the club
The 30-year-old forward arrived at the Bavarian club in a £100million deal this summer
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But of course, Kane isn’t ordinary. He’s super- human. We’ve known that for years — and finally mainland Europe is coming to realise it too.
As Kane collected his belongings from the X-ray machine, the mad rush ensued.
With a refreshing smile and warmth, the striker accepted every single photo request from passengers and airport staff desperate for their piece of the England captain before he boarded the flight back to Bavaria.
‘Kanemania’ had gripped Germany. And after 21 goals in 16 appearances for the German giants the frenzy hasn’t relented.
Goals from the halfway line; three hat-tricks — two in consecutive Bundesliga matches — plus seven direct assists; the Germans are witnessing greatness.
They know it, too — ‘King Kane’ they have crowned him in the German press. England and Tottenham’s greatest all-time goalscorer, the very best of what this country has to offer. But Kane belongs to Europe now and he’s taking the continent by storm.
Kane super start to his career in Germany is made all the more remarkable when you consider circumstances off the field.
The England striker has spent much of his new life in Munich without wife Kate and their four children Ivy, Vivienne, Louis and Henry. The absence of loved ones has its strains, particularly in a country where you don’t speak the language.
While those at Bayern are working hard to relocate the Kanes, there is also a sense that the lack of an immediate support network has benefitted his performances.
Fight or flight? Sink or swim? We know the answer.
He has been able to focus solely on the football; getting to know his team-mates and immersing himself in the way head coach Thomas Tuchel wants him to operate without distraction.
By the time Kate and the kids eventually settle in Munich, the hope is that he will be so acclimatised to his new surroundings that their presence will further boost his performances.
That said, Kane hasn’t been completely alone. His brother Charlie, who also acts as the striker’s agent, is clocking up the air miles as he splits his time between Essex and Germany.
His father Ted, a highly influential figure in Kane’s career, frequently jets over too, while Kate and the children visit whenever possible.
Kane wasted no time opening his Bundesliga account, netting seven times in his first five league games
The former Spurs captain was given a heroes welcome upon joining the German champions
The striker is still searching for a permanent residence for he and wife Kate to share with their three children
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While Kate, Bayern and Kane work together to find the family a permanent residence, the striker has been temporarily living at a luxurious five-star hotel in Munich’s old town.
His suite offers a view of the River Isar. Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Hermes all have boutiques round the corner — there are plenty of ways for Kane to spend that near £500,000-per-week pay packet.
That said, Kane isn’t one for retail therapy — although he has developed a penchant for luxury French leather goods brand Goyard. His true passion — away from football — is golf. Indeed, he is said to have spent much of his downtime perfecting his swing. The 27-hole Munchener Golf club in Strasslach and Golfplatz Schloss in Egmating are among the courses Kane is said to have visited.
Sources in Germany have indicated that the Kanes have now identified a family home in the Grunwald district of Munich bringing hope they can be permanently reunited before the new year.
That will be a significant step forward for Kane — and certainly Bayern, who have worked tirelessly to ensure their £120million investment is well looked after.
By his own admission, Kane’s admirable attempts to learn German have become somewhat of a slow burner.
Bayern have organised regular language lessons — Mail Sport understands Kane has completed around 10 sessions so far.
Bayern are keen for Kane to secure a firmer grasp of the language; not just for ease of communication on the pitch but also because of the value it would add in terms of marketability.
Yet for all the challenges, you’re unlikely to hear Kane complain. This is what he wanted. Something new. Something out of his comfort zone. Recently, along with his new team-mates, Kane visited the Oktoberfest beer festival.
Bayern are keen for Kane to develop an understanding of the German language during his time at the club
Until then Thomas Tuchel has proven a reliable sounding board for the England captain
Sipping Paulaner beer from a stein while wearing lederhosen wouldn’t have put Kane in his comfort zone. But the fact he was there, albeit as part of a planned media appearance day, speaks volumes for his willingness to throw himself into German life.
The sheer size of Germany means travelling to domestic matches can be far more time-consuming than he is used to.
Bayern will often spend an extra night in a hotel for away games. Teams in the Premier League generally return to base camp straight after the final whistle.
Bayern players and coaching staff — regardless of result — are expected to attend regular dinner functions laid on by their sponsors after matches, which again is alien to Kane. But he is forming strong personal alliances to help him through the transition process.
Tuchel, who is fluent in English, has been key in ensuring Kane has a sounding board.
The striker has developed a close bond with Bayern vice-captain Thomas Muller and formed relationships with Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala — who have both played in England.
England colleague Jude Bellingham, who spent three years with Borussia Dortmund, has also offered advice.
Kane’s unassuming nature makes him a likeable character. His commitment to the team and willingness to carry out instructions for the betterment of it, is said to have surprised his colleagues at Bayern’s Sabener Strasse training HQ.
It shouldn’t have been a shock. Ask those who worked closely with Kane at Tottenham and England.The team’s success has always come before his own glory.
Ultimately, his thirst for titles was the overriding factor behind his decision to leave Spurs.
August 11, 2023. The day Kane left his old life behind. A poignant and exciting day for Kane, but one that eventually created animosity and conflict.
Bayern and Spurs had agreed the deal for Kane the night before. He was booked on a morning flight on a private jet out of the Harrods Brompton hangar at Luton Airport.
But Kane had to delay his departure twice that day, owing to disagreements over finer parts of the deal. Both parties point the finger at each other for moving the financial goal posts at the last minute.
Whatever the truth, the episode brought an unnecessarily sour end to what had been one of the most cherished partnerships in the Premier League era.
Earlier that day, Kane had asked permission to train with his Tottenham colleagues for one final time.But he was denied access to the club’s Enfield HQ amid a feeling from Spurs that such a visit would be inappropriate given a deal had been agreed for him to leave.
As Mail Sport exclusively revealed last month, Kane finally got to say his goodbyes while on England duty ahead of the game against Italy.
Many hope that Kane and Spurs will one day rekindle their romance, but those close to the ill-feeling that day believe a reunion would be difficult while the current Tottenham board remain in place.
The former Spurs captain reiterated his love for his former club in an interview last month
Kane added that there is ‘no other team in the Premier League’ that he would want to win
But we shouldn’t rule it out. Sentiment carries very little weight in professional football nowadays but the Spurs connection still means everything to him.
‘I have made it clear my whole career I am a Tottenham fan and I would love to see Tottenham do well,’ said Kane last month.
‘There is no other team in the Premier League I would want to win.’
Who knows? There may be a time when Kane is back at Tottenham. Time is a great healer.
Playing in an 18-club Bundesliga and a country that has one fewer cup competition, plus the bonus of a genuine winter break, will boost his longevity.
Kane is planning on playing into his 40s, although injuries will dictate whether that is a realistic goal.
But that’s all in the future. For now he is flourishing.
As the Kanes finally landed in Bavaria at around 7.30pm that Friday night, the wild scenes of celebration on the streets of Munich spoke for themselves.
There’s something about Bayern and how they cherish their strikers: Gerd Muller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Robert Lewandowski.
And now Kane: the Englishman who is the new goalscoring king of Germany.
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
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