Harry Kane admitted that he never had the opportunity to play in Spain despite an earlier summer inquiry from Barcelona, SPORT reported. Speaking ahead of his club’s Champions League fixture, the Bayern Munich striker acknowledged that testing himself in La Liga would have been an incredible experience.

The remarks surfaced as the English forward prepares to face Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium. Kane arrives in the Spanish capital fresh off winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or in London at 33 years old, where he outpolled Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal after netting 73 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich and the England national team during the 2025–26 season. With the German club specifically, he scored 61 goals, including 36 in the Bundesliga, 14 in the Champions League, ten in the Copa, and one in the Supercopa. According to El Español, the achievement makes him the first Englishman to claim the prestigious individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001, while returning the trophy to Munich for the first time since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won it 45 years prior. “Ha sido la mejor temporada de mi carrera”, said in the ceremony.

Summer Inquiry From Barcelona and Admired Idols

During the previous summer transfer window, Kane’s name was linked with a potential move to Spain as Barcelona searched for attacking reinforcements following Robert Lewandowski’s departure, SPORT noted. Although the sporting direction explored the possibility, club officials ultimately deemed the operation too complex to pursue. When the German club appeared to depart from Tottenham, he did not think twice about it.

Reflecting on his childhood influences during a press conference covered by Mundo Deportivo, Kane revealed a deep admiration for Spanish football. He pointed to the dominant national team that claimed two European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012, alongside the historic club rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid defined by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the top swords of those teams. “El fútbol español siempre ha sido de un nivel top”, Kane said, adding that while he would have welcomed a chance to play in the country, his path ultimately led him to Germany.

Return to the Metropolitano Stadium

Tuesday’s fixture brings Kane back to the Metropolitano for the first time since June 1, 2019, when he captained Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League final, as detailed by El Español. Diario AS reported that the striker acknowledged the lingering pain of that night while expressing excitement about stepping back onto the same pitch. The venue holds further significance because Kane is scheduled to return there on November 15 to lead England against Spain in the UEFA Nations League, and the stadium hosts a new Champions League final where the brand-new Ballon d’Or winner wants to be present.

Beyond settling old accounts, Kane enters the match with a major scoring milestone within reach. El Español noted that the forward can equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record by scoring in eleven consecutive appearances in Europe’s premier club competition.

Weighing Individual Honors Against Team Trophies

Addressing reporters in Madrid, Kane offered a striking perspective on his priorities by declaring he would trade his newly acquired Ballon d’Or for victory in this season’s Champions League. “El Balón de Oro de la semana pasada fue una de las mejores sensaciones que he tenido en mi vida y en mi carrera”, admitted the Bayern Munich striker in the press conference. “El Balón de Oro es uno de los mejores momentos de mi vida”, Kane told reporters, “pero celebrar con el equipo, levantar un trofeo juntos sería un sentimiento maravilloso”.

Despite his openness regarding La Liga, Kane maintained that he harbors no regrets about joining Bayern Munich in 2023. SPORT reported that the player feels exceptionally happy in Bavaria, where negotiations to extend his contract through 2029 are nearing completion. Diario AS added that club lawyers are currently finalizing the final details of the agreement.