Former Arsenal academy chief Liam Brady has revealed why Harry Kane failed to make the grade at Arsenal.
Kane joined the Arsenal academy at the age of 8 but was released following only one season and initially didn’t make it with Tottenham before they signed him aged 11.
After bagging his 100th goal in the Premier League for Spurs last week, Kane described Arsenal’s rejection as the best thing that ever happened to him.
The striker came back to haunt the Gunners once again in Saturday’s North London derby, scoring the winner at Wembley to make it 7 goals in 7 games against Arsene Wenger’s side.
And Liam Brady, former Arsenal Head of Youth Development and Academy Director, has conceded Arsenal let go Kane because he was “bit chubby” but admitted it was a big mistake.
“He was a bit chubby, he wasn’t very athletic but we made a mistake,” Brady told Corriere della Sera. (h/t The Independent)
“But Tottenham sent him out on loan to lower-division clubs three or four times as well.
“But through his determination, he has carved out an amazing career and he deserves it. He has a character that drives him to improve all the time.
“After Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski, there is Harry Kane. The statistics speak for themselves and he’s still only 24.”
Brady does make a valid point; Kane was earlier never regarded as highly as he is regarded today. After his breakthrough season in 2014-15, everyone dubbed the striker as a ‘one season wonder’ but Kane has since kept proving his detractors wrong.
At just 24, the forward has reached 100 Premier League goals and indeed, there is still a lot many to come from him. His consistent performances week in and week out has seen him draw comparisons with some of world’s best. The comparisons to Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Lewandowski is just a testament to Kane’s ability and the way he has turned the world upside down in a matter of just a few seasons at Spurs.
It is just a matter of time before Kane leads us to silverware. It is indeed a proud moment to see our academy kid shattering records with ease and poise.
Kane is one of our own!
