Arsenal turned down Harry Kane as a youngster because he was 'chubby and not very athletic'

Spurs striker spent two years at Gunners academy but was ditched at the age of nine

Posted Tuesday, February 13, 2018 by Dreamteamfc.com

Arsenal turned down Harry Kane as a youngster because he was 'chubby and not very athletic'
Kane (bottom, left) played for the Gunners in his youth

Harry Kane is probably the greatest striker in the world right now, yeah?

The Spurs striker netted his 100th Premier League goal last week and is well on course to securing his third consecutive Golden Boot award.

So, imagine letting him go for nothing when he was just a boy.

Well, that's exactly what Arsenal did.

That's right, the 24-year-old actually started out on the books at the Gunners, but was released at the age of nine before he was picked up by Spurs.

In a recent interview, the goal-machine stated that Arsenal's rejection has always been his greatest motivation and that scoring against the Gunners (like he did at the weekend) is very satisfying.

And at last, former Gunners academy chief Liam Brady has revealed why the North London giants let him go at a young age.

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Brady – who was in charge of Arsenal's youth set-up between 1996 and 2013 while Kane was there as a kid – said: "Unfortunately yes, he was chubby and not very athletic, but we got it wrong.

"Even Tottenham loaned him out to the lower leagues three or four times though.

"But through his determination he has carved out an amazing career and he deserves it.

"After Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowksi, there is Kane, the statistics speak for themselves and he's still only 24."

Arsenal turned down Harry Kane as a youngster because he was 'chubby and not very athletic'
Kane grabbed the winner in the North London derby at the weekend