England national team striker Harry Kane (32, Bayern Munich) targeted his former club, Tottenham.

Kane noted during a press conference ahead of the Group K match against Albania at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup European Qualifiers held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on the 22nd (Korean time), "I scored many goals during my time at Tottenham, but I never felt genuinely recognized like I do now. I feel that my true worth is being acknowledged only after coming to Bayern."

Having been connected with Tottenham since his youth, Kane spent almost his entire career at the North London club. However, in the summer of 2023, he transferred to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich to challenge for championship trophies on a bigger stage. At the time, this choice was interpreted as a bold decision to shed the stigma of being 'trophyless.'

He said, "No matter how outstanding a season I had at Tottenham, I was not recognized due to the lack of trophies. Even after scoring 40 goals, it was hard to be in the top 10 for the Ballon d'Or," adding, "It was sad to realize that it was almost impossible to expect individual awards without championships."

Despite holding the Premier League top scorer title and the club's all-time highest goal record, Kane had no connection to team championships or individual awards like the Ballon d'Or. His highest achievement at Tottenham was merely a runner-up finish in both the league and the UEFA Champions League.

Naturally, Tottenham players are receiving unfavorable evaluations for various performances or selections for the league's best XI. "The comments made by Kane show that the club Tottenham has an environment where individual performance is hard to be evaluated on a global stage," analyzed 'TNT Sports.'

Son Heung-min, who showcased a remarkable partnership with Kane, is in a similar situation. Son joined Tottenham in 2015 and has signed several contract renewals since, recently extending his contract, originally set to expire in 2025, to the summer of 2026, reaffirming his loyalty to the team. Having established himself as a symbolic figure for Tottenham, he currently wears the captain's armband.

Son made a different choice than Kane. However, their trajectories are contrasting. While Son struggles with Tottenham, Kane, who left the club, responded positively about adapting to the German stage, saying, "At a club like Bayern, it's reasonable to expect 30 to 40 goals every season. It is pressured, but it also stimulates me to grow to the next level."

Soaring high, Kane displayed dazzling scoring ability from his first season, recording over 40 goals and achieving the European Golden Shoe. However, the team failed in major competitions like the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal, ending the season without any trophies. It marked the first time in 12 years that Bayern ended a season without a championship.

In this regard, Kane said, "Last season, the absence of trophies naturally drew us away from individual awards. The Ballon d'Or is impossible without team performance backing it up." There were even jokes about whether 'Kane's trophyless curse has followed him to Munich.'

This season, Bayern is leading the league, with only eight games left. Kane expressed confidence, stating, "If the conditions of winning and scoring 40 goals are met, this time the Ballon d'Or can really become a reality." Kane added, "Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scored 50 goals every year, and when they scored only 40, it was considered a 'slump.' I would have been more recognized if I were still in my mid-20s. I believe I am still maintaining my best performance."

Ultimately, he targeted Tottenham. In fact, Kane is closely linked to transfers to teams other than Tottenham, even if he were to leave Bayern. He is even rumored to be linked with rivals Arsenal. Attention is focused on whether Kane's provocative remarks towards Tottenham will ignite these transfer rumors.

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