Matthaus Claims Kane's Ballon d'Or Win Secures His Future at Bayern
The former World Cup winner argues that the English striker's individual triumph strengthens his negotiating position and encourages a new multi-year deal with the German champions.
By Diego Ross ·
Lothar Matthaus, the former Germany captain, stated on Tuesday that Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or victory will facilitate his contract extension with Bayern Munich. Matthaus, a 1990 Ballon d'Or winner, spoke during an online media roundtable about the 33-year-old striker's current contract talks.
Kane was named the recipient of the award on Monday, becoming the first English player to win the honor since Michael Owen in 2001. The accolade recognizes his outstanding season, during which he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern. He also guided England to the World Cup semifinals, scoring six goals in the tournament.
Matthaus attributed part of Kane's success to his move to Munich. "Maybe he was dreaming to win the Ballon d'Or … but you have to play in a big club like Bayern. He found his peace in Munich and the right club with the right teammates," Matthaus said. He noted that the award should serve as a "bonus" for Kane, contrasting it with his own experience in 1990 when he received no financial increase for the prize.
The former captain emphasized that the relationship between the player and the club is ideal. "The relationship between Harry Kane and Bayern Munich is perfect, and with everything that has happened in the last three years, I think Harry will sign his contract for the next two, three years," he said. He added that it is a good moment for Bayern to secure a new deal because the club helped Kane achieve the individual honor.
Kane joined Bayern in 2023 from Tottenham Hotspur in a transfer worth 100 million euros. He has won the Bundesliga title twice since arriving. The striker is currently in negotiations regarding his future with the German side.
Bayern currently leads the Bundesliga table. The team will play Magdeburg on Wednesday in the second round of the German Cup.
Matthaus described Kane as an international ambassador for football. "We are very happy to have Harry Kane in the Bundesliga," he said. The award winner highlighted the striker's impact on the league during his time in Germany.
Source: Al Jazeera
