I released Harry Kane from Arsenal academy aged 12, I had a very good reason but was ‘totally mistaken’
TOTTENHAM star Harry Kane was released from Arsenal aged 12.
Roy Massey was the Gunners’ academy manager at the time and made the decision to let the future England captain go.
He has admitted in an interview with talkSPORT that he did not believe Kane was good enough to make it as a player.
After his release, Kane spent three years without a club before being snapped up by the other club in North London.
Massey explained: “To release Harry Kane… we don’t have a crystal ball.
“If we did then we would be successful in every youngster than we take on.
“Harry was a lovely young player. He was quiet, shy, didn’t have what we thought it would take to become a professional footballer and so we were totally mistaken.
“Although I’ve got to say that when Harry was released when he was 11 or 12 years of age, he did go to play for his Sunday league club for the next three years so no other club’s picked him up in that age group.
“It was only when he was 15 he went to Tottenham and obviously he’s had great success.”
Massey previously revealed that Kane’s father Pat told Arsenal that his son was interested in becoming a goalkeeper in a desperate attempt for him to retain a spot at the club.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
However, the ex-academy chief has helped nurture several other talents despite his mistake with Kane.
Massey brought through the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jack Wilshere, Emile Smith-Rowe, Josh Dasilva and Joe Willock, all of which have gone on to have successful career in the Premier League.