Why Michael Owen could not have been more wrong with his criticism of Harry Kane, writes OLIVER HOLT

It’s commonplace for a participant to be criticised for transferring for cash however it’s a unusual factor certainly when a star footballer is lambasted for turning his again on the hunt for particular person data and pursuing his dream of profitable a trophy with a group as an alternative.

And but when Harry Kane runs out on the Allianz Enviornment for Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening for his or her Champions League season-opener towards Chelsea, the suggestion that he was ‘nuts’ for transferring to Germany in 2023 will nonetheless be ringing in his ears.

It was Michael Owen, one other of England’s best goalscorers, who expressed astonishment not too long ago that Kane moved to Bayern firstly of the 2023-24 season simply when he was closing in on Alan Shearer’s document of 260 Premier League targets.

In a sport drowning in statistics and more and more in thrall to the cult of the person fairly than the spirit of the group, Owen’s phrases struck a chord with many. Kane, they are saying, would have surpassed Shearer’s mark by now had he stayed at Spurs.

They might be proper about that however they might scarcely be extra improper for suggesting that Kane was loopy to move for Germany to attempt to win trophies fairly than stick round any longer within the seek for private glory.

I’ve the utmost respect for Shearer. He was a incredible centre ahead, a participant to be admired and cherished. However his document is a man-made assemble anyway, created by broadcasters who need us to consider English soccer started in 1992.

Michael Owen not too long ago claimed Kane was ‘nuts’ for opting to depart the Premier League in 2023

The remark could ring in Kane’s ears as Bayern start their Champions League marketing campaign

It’s, sarcastically, testimony to the ephemerality of some data that most individuals appear to have forgotten that Jimmy Greaves, not Shearer, is the best goalscorer within the historical past of England’s high flight.

Greaves tops the all-time record with 357 targets – Shearer is fifth on 283 – however Greaves’ crime was that he performed earlier than the Premier League existed. Broadcasters, particularly, appear afraid to acknowledge the truth that something earlier than 1992 carried advantage lest it ought to besmirch the sanctity of their product.

Fairly other than any of that, Kane’s transfer to Germany has been an impressive success by any metric and that features the truth that he and his household have broadened their horizons by experiencing a special tradition.

Kane, who’s nineteenth on the all-time record of English goalscorers with 213 top-flight strikes, was lampooned when he was in England for failing to win a trophy in his decade at Tottenham.

He was instructed, repeatedly, that his profession was nugatory due to it. He was instructed that his targets would depend for nothing when it got here to selecting who belonged within the pantheon of the sport.

The truth that Spurs received the Europa League with out him final season was additionally a reason behind mirth for a lot of however who is aware of if Spurs even would have been within the competitors if Kane had nonetheless been on the membership? They in all probability would have been taking part in within the Champions League if he had stayed.

Kane had been lampooned when he was in England for failing to win a trophy at Tottenham

Kane celebrated together with his household and admitted his aid after profitable the Bundesliga final season

Kane has received the highest goalscorer award in again to again years to additional his legacy within the recreation

It’s irrelevant as a result of not solely has Kane’s goalscoring in German soccer been phenomenal, not solely is he averaging a aim a recreation, not solely did he win European soccer’s Golden Shoe award in his first season in Bavaria because the continent’s high scorer, he additionally received the Bundesliga title final season.

I used to be on the Allianz Enviornment that day in Might this yr, when Kane lifted his first trophy above his head after a win over Borussia Monchengladbach and celebrated together with his teammates and his household on the pitch with the sort of abandon that we have now by no means seen him exhibit earlier than.

Kane is a reserved sort of man. He doesn’t usually cavort however he cavorted that day and for these of us who consider he’s nonetheless under-rated as a participant, nonetheless not recognised for being an excellent supplier of targets in addition to one of the scientific finishers, it was great to behold.

Most of all, Kane admitted when a bunch of us spoke to him an hour or so after the sport, it was aid that he felt. Reduction that he had received a serious trophy finally. Reduction that he was a part of a profitable group. And pleasure that he was now a part of Bayern’s wonderful historical past.

‘Nuts’ to do this? Nuts to be a part of the sacred lineage that features Gerd Muller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski? Nuts to be taking part in for Bayern, one of many world’s nice golf equipment?

Nuts to be going into this season’s Champions League with one of many golf equipment who has a shot at profitable it? Nuts to be have opened this season with 5 targets and three assists from his first three video games?

No, the reality is that transferring to Bayern was the perfect choice Harry Kane ever made. It has introduced him all the pieces he needed and far, rather more. It has made him a hero at two golf equipment, not only one. It has constructed his status as a goalscorer who may get excel in two of Europe’s high leagues.

Kane has develop into a hero for followers at two golf equipment and proven he can excel in two high leagues

Kane will really feel he’s at a membership who’ve an opportunity to win this season’s Champions League

Kane continues to increase his England goalscoring document that will final past his lifetime

And if there are nonetheless some who fret that he has sacrificed his shot at particular person glories, they needn’t fear an excessive amount of. When Kane scored England’s first aim within the 5-0 demolition of Serbia in Belgrade earlier this month, it was his 74th strike for his nation.

That places him 21 away from Wayne Rooney in second, and 54 forward of the subsequent lively participant, Raheem Sterling, who doesn’t look, sadly, as if he will probably be including to his complete any time quickly.

Kane’s England document could properly final past his lifetime. So if it seems he by no means catches Shearer, one thing tells me he’ll cope.