Harry Kane rejects Michael Owen’s criticism over move to Bayern Munich

Harry Kane has pushed back on criticism from Michael Owen over his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich, saying career choices and motivations differ for every player.

Kane, who left his boyhood club in the summer of 2023 after nearly two decades with Spurs, responded to Owen's comments in an interview ahead of England's European Qualifier against Serbia. Owen had described the move as "nuts" on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, arguing Kane was on the verge of becoming the Premier League's all-time top scorer and questioning whether uprooting his family was worth it.

"I heard it," Kane said. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've spent a bit of time with him but don't know him well. Obviously, he is a Premier League great and an England great as well, so I'll respect him as a person, but ultimately as he will know, everyone's career is different — everyone's decisions and motivations are different."

Kane said he did not move solely to collect trophies but to keep competing at the highest level for as long as possible. He cited regular involvement in title races, Champions League fixtures and other major matches, and said the move had helped him develop as a goalscorer. "I feel I'm improving as a player, I'm pushing my limits as a player in terms of goalscoring," he said, adding that he was "very happy at Bayern Munich now." Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title in May.

Owen, the former England striker, also questioned the timing of Kane's exit on practical grounds, noting the striker's family and his proximity to the Premier League scoring record. "You're on the verge of being the all-time Premier League goal scorer, you've got kids that are all in school," Owen said on the podcast. He suggested Kane might have delayed a move by a year to pursue the record, and compared a transfer to a club that dominates its domestic league to a lesser challenge than remaining in the Premier League and attempting to break the record.

Kane left Spurs with a long association at the north London club and with a high Premier League goals tally, and has since added to his overall career honours with Bayern. His transfer and subsequent success have prompted debate over priorities — personal, professional and familial — that often surround high-profile moves.

The exchange between two of England's most prolific strikers underlines differing views within the game about the balance between personal ambition and historic achievements. Kane's international schedule resumed this week as England prepared for their qualifier, giving him the platform to address the remarks directly.

Both Kane and Owen have been prominent figures in English football for more than a decade. While Owen has been outspoken in media appearances about players' career choices, Kane has emphasized the individualized nature of such decisions and the factors that influenced his move to Germany. Kane’s comments were measured and framed around respect for Owen’s status in the game, while reiterating his belief that the move to Bayern has been the right step for his career.