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Harry Kane maintains "everyone is entitled to their opinion" as he defended his choice to join Bayern Munich and abandon his pursuit of the Premier League goalscoring record.
Kane has reacted to comments made by Michael Owen, as the former Liverpool and Manchester United striker called him "nuts" for quitting English soccer for Germany. The striker is now in his third campaign in the Bundesliga following his departure from Tottenham in the summer of 2023.
He had spent his entire professional career in London, achieving remarkable individual accolades, yet without securing silverware. Since his move to Bavaria, he's finally captured the first major trophies of his career, clinching the Bundesliga last season, while also guaranteeing annual Champions League soccer.
However, Owen was amongst numerous critics who questioned Kane's departure from England, given he stood on 213 Premier League strikes - leaving him merely 48 short of surpassing Alan Shearer's legendary record.
Owen also suggested that moving to Bayern and collecting honors was hardly worth celebrating, considering the team's dominance in German soccer. The former Liverpool icon argued "there's no great achievement in that" - but Kane has responded.
He said: "I heard it. 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.
"I know he was insinuating I went just for the trophy, but it was to be at the highest level for as long as possible, and I'm really happy in that sense of playing big games, title runs, big Champions League matches, Club World Cup quarterfinal.
"I feel I'm improving as a player. I'm pushing my limits as a player in terms of goalscoring. It's hard not to hear things these days, but the decisions are best for me, and I'm really happy that I made that decision and very happy at Bayern Munich now."
Kane has established countless milestones since his switch to Germany and has persistently demonstrated his credentials as one of Europe's premier strikers.
He had never tested himself beyond the Tottenham bubble, but has netted 91 times across 100 appearances for Bayern.
Tottenham is believed to have negotiated a buy-back provision should the forward ever choose to depart Bayern and return to England's elite division.
There remains an anticipation that Kane will come back, but at 32, he still possesses plenty of time should Shearer's record be occupying his thoughts.
Nevertheless, he's emphasized that his attention remains on staying with Bayern despite approaching the concluding year of his contract at the Allianz Arena. "I've really enjoyed my time here and I'm not thinking about being anywhere else," he said recently.
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