BAYERN Munich legend Uli Hoeness has warned England captain Harry Kane has “fundamental problems” with his ankles.
Hoeness says goal machine Kane has been worth every penny of the £100m-plus fee Bayern paid for him in 2023 – not least because he keeps playing and scoring despite the injuries being “not trivial”.
But Three Lions fans will fear the centre-forward, 32, may be hampered by physical issues at this summer’s World Cup, just as he was at the last two major tournaments.
Hoeness, a former Bayern forward who went on to be club president, said: “Bayern have always played strongly when the number nine was really strong.
“Harry Kane cost just over 100 million, and that was uncharted territory for us, and it was a massive risk. You have to say that, of course.
“Today you have to say that every euro, or whatever—it was actually pounds, every pound we spent on him – has paid off.
“Not just because he scores so many goals, but because he’s a role model.
“I reckon he’d have to walk with his head under his arm not to play.
“I mean, his ankle injuries, they’re not exactly trivial.
“He’s got fundamental problems there, but you know yourself how he often gets knocked about.
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“But he just does this and that, and then he’s back at it again.”
Kane last week became the first Englishman to score 50 goals in a season for a top-flight side since Aston Villa’s Tom Waring in 1931.
Harry Kane’s England record at major tournaments
A look at Harry Kane’s record for England at major tournaments:
Euro 2016:
Games – 4
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
England finish – Last-16
World Cup 2018:
Games – 6
Goals – 6
Assists – 0
England finish – Third-place play-off
Euro 2020:
Games – 7
Goals – 4
Assists – 0
England finish – Runner-up
World Cup 2022:
Games – 5
Goals – 2
Assists – 3
England finish – Quarter finals
Euro 2024:
Games – 7
Goals – 3
Assists – 0
England finish – Runner-up
England boss Thomas Tuchel will hope his captain is still fit and firing after the end of a club season in which Bayern are chasing a Treble of Bundesliga title, German Cup and Champions League.
Hoeness also had a few, much less complimentary, things to say about former Bayern boss Tuchel – including the claim he once asked a Munich-born Croatia international whether he could speak German.
Tuchel left the Bavarian giants in 2024 after rows with management in a season when the club lost the title to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Hoeness told the Auf eine weiß-blaue Tasse podcast: “He asked Stanisic if he even speaks German, even though he was born here.
“That’s the kind of thing that’s not acceptable.
“When things didn’t go well, he didn’t question himself. It was always the team’s fault.”
Where to buy England’s 2026 World Cup kits
ENGLAND are dreaming of World Cup glory in North America this summer.
And you can show your support for Thomas Tuchel’s men by wearing the new Nike kits.
The white home jersey and red away strip were unveiled and went on sale in March.
England home and away kits can be purchased online at the England Store.
The AeroFIT kits cost £134.99 for adults, while the Stadium kit costs £89.99.
A full kids’ kit – shirt, shorts, socks – costs £54.99.
