Tottenham close Harry Kane chapter for good

FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – Now and forever, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are bound by Harry Kane.

Spurs’ all-time leading scorer made the £85m move to Bavaria almost exactly a year ago after a protracted transfer saga in which Daniel Levy had appeared to have held his own.

When Kane scored four times in a 5-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk this time last summer, the noises out of Spurs did not suggest that would be his final appearance for the club. The feeling was Tottenham would enter the season and then figure out what to do. It’s why the ripping of the bandaid days later when his move was confirmed was so painful.

You’d have forgiven Tottenham for making the whole day about Kane, for handing him a microphone and getting him to do an emotional speech, for writing a clause into the Bayern deal which permitted he play one half of this game as a Spurs player.

But instead, he and Eric Dier were allotted a slot 15 minutes from kick-off directly after the warm-ups, greeted by Tottenham ambassador Ledley King to receive commemorative cockerel statutes, as is modern tradition with Spurs greats. There was a loud, generous helping of cheers and applause, but it’s not as if the roof came off. Supporters were warned of getting to their seats early for this mini-presentation, but the bowl was at most 75% full.

And yes, the presentation really was mini. No videos, no ambling, just a quick ‘thank you for your service’ monologue from stadium presenter Paul Coyte and fading back into the dressing room.

It was a telling contrast to what occurred five minutes later. As more fans made their way into the open air, Tottenham welcomed their three newest signings – Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke and January recruit Lucas Bergvall.

The place came alive.

Where Kane and Dier were greeted with cheers and claps, the new boys got roars. That sweeping feeling brought Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to its feet, a palpable energy, an intangible unity.

Kane was introduced as an 80th-minute substitute with Spurs 3-2 down. This time, the home faithful showed more appreciation, but that quickly turned into a desire to turn a game that had lost its spark around, even if only a friendly.

Tottenham, as a club and a fanbase, have healed and moved on. This was no pity party, but an acceptance and excitement towards the future. Even when Kane went to applaud the four stands of the stadium post-match, it was not overly saccharine, but just…