Harry Kane received a standing ovation on his return to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday but refused to lift the pre-season trophy Bayern Munich won by beating Spurs in a pre-season friendly.
Kane, Tottenham's all-time top scorer, joined Bayern last summer on a four-year contract worth more than 100 million euros ($110 million). He started on the bench against his former club but came on for the final 10 minutes with Bayern leading 3-2, a scoreline they held on to win the Visit Malta Cup.
He took the captain's armband when he finally entered the field, but handed it over before the trophy presentation and opted not to lift the trophy in front of his former teammates and fans.
The England captain, who helped his side reach the Euro 2024 final, said he only returned to training on Friday and “probably shouldn't have been playing” adding that he was “always going to play 10 minutes and it was good.”
“Last year everything was done very hastily, so we didn't have any chance.” [to say goodbye]”But it was a great way to say thank you to all of them,” said Kane, who took a solo lap of honor at the end of the game.
“The reception I got was incredible and it was great to applaud them on the pitch afterwards, those who stayed, and I will always be grateful to all the Spurs fans for the support they have given me throughout my career. It's been incredible.
“I just appreciate that they see me and that I see them again.”
Kane and Bayern teammate Eric Dier, who played alongside Kane during his decade at Tottenham, were presented with special trophies by former Spurs captain Ledley King on behalf of the club after the match.
Tottenham took the lead in the first minute through Dejan Kulusevski, before goals from Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller gave Bayern the lead at the break. Kulusevski added a second in the 61st minute, but the Premier League side were unable to find an equaliser.
