HARRY KANE came close to being released by Tottenham as a kid, the England captain has revealed.
The forward had already been rejected by Arsenal when he joined Spurs’ academy in 2004.
His arrival came following a spell with Watford after the Gunners let him go as an eight-year-old two years earlier.
Although he would go on to become the club’s record goalscorer, Kane could have left Spurs before even making the first-team.
Speaking during the Three Lions’ pre-match press conference on Monday, he explained: “I was eight when I was released by Arsenal. That might have built a bit of desire to prove them wrong.
“And when I first came to Spurs, I was close to being released.
“I was never the guy who everyone thought was going to do what I’ve done.
“I went on loan but still had to fight for my place, fight for the opportunity to show I could play at the level I wanted to.
“There have always been people who doubted me.”
Kane was later loaned out four times to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester before breaking into the side at Spurs.
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He went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer, though, with 280 goals in 435 appearances.
Of those strikes, 14 came in North London derbies against bitter rivals Arsenal.
Now playing in Germany for Bayern Munich, Kane will reach another landmark on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old is set to start England’s Nations League clash with Finland at Wembley Stadium.
In doing so, he will pick up his 100th senior cap for the Three Lions to move closer to Peter Shilton’s record of 125.
Kane has already surpassed Wayne Rooney to become the country’s leading goalscorer.
HARRY KANE is already England’s all-time record goalscorer.
But the Three Lions skipper will NOT be stopping there.
To mark his 100th cap for his country, Kane spoke to SunSport’s CHARLIE WYETT about some of his special England goals….
FIRST ENGLAND GOAL
“My debut v Lithuania. March 2015.
“There was a lot of talk in the build-up to that camp because I was playing well for Spurs.
“I got a great reception and within a couple of minutes I scored a goal.
“I don’t think I could have dreamed it any better.
“My friends and family were there. That was a really special night.”
FAVOURITE ENGLAND GOAL
“It’s between two, for me.
“Against Germany, the one at Wembley in Euro 2020.
“Also, the header against Tunisia at the World Cup in 2018.
“That moment of scoring a last-minute winner at my first World Cup was special.”
BEST ENGLAND GOAL
“The one I scored in Poland away in a World Cup qualifier in 2021. It was from 25 yards.”
(Kane picked up the ball from Kyle Walker, advanced towards goal and put his foot through it.)
“It kind of drifted away and it was a good strike, probably my furthest-out goal for England.”
His penalty against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final extended his record tally to 66, having broken Rooney’s record 16 months earlier.
And he wants to set the bar even higher.
Asked about getting a ton of international goals, Kane replied: “It is definitely possible. I am in a good place and this is a good target to try to reach.
“Some may see it as unrealistic but I would rather go for it and not quite make it than be comfortable saying, ‘I will be happy with 70 or 80 goals’.”
