26 August 2023 , 19:30
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Jurgen Klinsmann has warned Harry Kane that Bayern Munich signed him specifically to combat Erling Haaland – and help wrestle the Champions League crown away from Manchester City.
Klinsmann says the Bavarian giants paid Tottenham £100million for England’s captain with one aim – to lift European football’s most glittering prize. Bayern won their 11th straight Bundesliga title last season, but were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals by a Haaland-inspired City.
Germany legend Klinsmann, 59, has spelt out the scale of the challenge facing Kane ahead of his first league appearance at Bayern’s Allianz Arena on Sunday afternoon.
“Bayern signing Kane is like Manchester City signing Haaland last year,” argued Klinsmann. “They are both strikers who can transform a ‘competitive’ team in the Champions League into the winning team. Bayern lost Robert Lewandowski last summer and didn’t replace him.
“I know they tried really hard to sign Haaland when he was at Borussia Dortmund because that is how they work, by signing the best player of their domestic rivals to strengthen their own team and make their opponents weaker.
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“But Haaland signed for City – and they won the Champions League. Bayern’s chief executive Kalle Rummenigge and president Uli Hoeness would have looked at where their team came up short against City, and said, ‘Right, we need a real No.9’.
“Kane is one of the top three strikers in the world and he has been bought for a big fee to help win the Champions League.
“He will score goals and win domestic trophies with Bayern, I have no doubt, but he has joined a club that has spent all that money because they want to be the best team in Europe. That is their big stage.”
Harry Kane left Tottenham to join Bayern Munich this summer (Getty Images)Kane opened his Bundesliga account with a goal in the 4-0 win at Werder Bremen in the opening round – and will fancy striking again when lowly Augsburg roll up.
Klinsmann, now coaching South Korea, left Spurs after one 29-goal season to join Bayern in 1995.
He lifted the UEFA Cup in his first campaign, and recalled: “I was celebrating it when [the then manager and president] Franz Beckenbauer came up and said, ‘Remember, this is NOT the European trophy we want’. It’s the Bayern mentality, and that pressure will only help Kane.”