FC Bayern Munich – comment on Uli Hoeneß’ statements about Harry Kane: problematic in several respects

Shortly after Thomas Tuchel’s sovereign moderation and just a few seconds after his own muzzle was imposed, Uli Hoeneß chatted extensively on Saturday about transfer target Harry Kane. His words are likely to have caused irritation in several places. A comment.

At his press conference on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel “of course did not want to comment on players who are not under contract with us”. In a highly professional manner, the trainer moderated a question about Harry Kane’s transfer target. Negotiations with his current club, Tottenham Hotspur, are proving to be complicated, with FC Bayern Munich’s most recent offer of 80 million euros not being enough.

A little later, Uli Hoeneß proudly announced in his capacity as honorary president, supervisory board member, transfer task force member and Uli Hoeneß: “Now we’ve finally closed the club. We won’t start leaking it again on the first day.” So will this chronically restless club, which is pushing itself into the public eye and decomposed by different interests, actually come to rest? Work and be silent?

Oh well. His own words did not prevent Hoeneß from chatting for minutes afterwards about Kane, alleged collusion with the 29-year-old striker and negotiating partner Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s president. According to Hoeneß, Kane “signaled very clearly in all talks that his decision stands. If it stays, we’ll get him. Because then Tottenham will have to cave in. That such a club will give up 80, 90 million – or however many there will be can’t exist.”

You can hardly go into any more detail publicly on a topic like this. With regard to Tuchel’s moderation and his own tight-lipped motto, which was expressed immediately before, these statements had almost satirical traits. Hoeneß’ words should have caused irritation in several places.

Uli Hoeneß’ statements: Effects in Munich and London

On the one hand, within the club at FC Bayern. The other members of the transfer task force – Jan-Christian Dreesen, Herbert Hainer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Marco Neppe, Michael Diederich and Tuchel – cannot please these publicly expressed water level reports. Because they naturally weaken FC Bayern’s negotiating position and naturally damage the relationship with Levy.

The 61-year-old Englishman is considered a difficult negotiating partner. The trust built up at a summit meeting last week could have immediately destroyed Hoeneß’s statements – and possibly provoke a reaction of defiance from Levy. “Having to buckle”, “a club like that” like Tottenham and so on: You can’t blame Levy if he takes these words as a provocation.

Levy is known for his stubbornness: if he doesn’t want to, then he doesn’t want to. In 2021, Kane had pushed with all his might to move to Manchester City. Vain. Levy even turned down an offer of €150m. Because of such sums, Hoeneß called a Kane commitment “completely gaga” in March of this year.

It should also be uncomfortable for Kane himself and those around him that Hoeneß talks so openly about alleged agreements. After all, the striker does not want a dirty exit from his heart club, for which he has played since childhood and for which he has long been the record goalscorer.

FC Bayern once had bad experiences with public statements about a Premier League player with Callum Hudson-Odoi. Although the then sports director Hasan Salihamidzic was “in love” with the player, according to Rummenigge, the change ultimately burst.

Uli Hoeneß also surprised with statements about midfield

Back to Hoeneß’ speech on Saturday. The 71-year-old surprised not only with his statements about Kane, but also with those about the midfield situation at Bayern. As is well known, Tuchel wants a new defensive six. One like Declan Rice, in whom Munich was also interested, but who has now switched from West Ham United to Arsenal FC for 117 million euros.

“The fact is that this player has a profile that I don’t think we have in the squad. It could be interesting to have such a profile in the squad,” said Tuchel at the press conference on Saturday. And Hoeneß shortly afterwards? “The discussion about the six doesn’t even arise for me because Konrad Laimer is a transfer that we will have a lot of fun with.”

Amazingly contrary views of two people who belong to the same transfer task force – and are among the most important in the club. Here Tuchel, equipped with more power at Bayern than almost any coach before. There Hoeneß, equipped with more power than almost anyone in any club ever.

When there are differences of opinion between such alpha animals, problems are inevitable. As a reminder: Borussia Dortmund once left Tuchel in strife after friction with Hans-Joachim Watzke.

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