I released Harry Kane from Arsenal aged 12… he was so upset he offered to become a goalkeeper

HARRY KANE offered to become a keeper when Arsenal released him as a youngster, former Gunners academy manager Roy Massey has revealed.

Tottenham‘s all-time top scorer was an Arsenal prospect as a child after being scouted by their youth set-up.

Harry Kane was in Arsenal’s academy as a youngster

Kane, left, was released by the Gunners at the age of 12

But academy boss Massey ended up having to tell him at the age of 12 that he was not cutting it as a striker.

Now the ex-Arsenal coach has revealed Kane’s dad Pat told him his son was willing to become a keeper… although it did not work out.

He said: “When I see Harry now I can’t help but to think back to when he was a starry-eyed 12-year-old, sat with his mum and dad in my office as I told him he wasn’t quite up to the standard we were looking for.

“That was the hardest part of the job, telling lads that Arsenal were letting them go.

“Next thing, Harry’s dad came back in and told me he now wants to be a goalkeeper – and I thought the least I could do was to send him to work with our keeper coach Alex Welch.

“Alex was one of the best in the business and after just a few sessions he told me ‘Roy, the lad is never going to make the grade in goal’, so this time Harry had to move on.

“I know how much it hurt him.”

Kane recovered from his Arsenal rejection and ended up being picked up by Spurs – where he has gone on to become their all-time top scorer.

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And Massey, 79, who brought through the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jack Wilshere, Emile Smith-Rowe, Josh Dasilva and Joe Willock, has nothing but admiration for the Lilywhites’ 273-goal talisman.

He added: “Some lads are lost to the game forever because they can’t get over the disappointment.

“But Harry took my words as a challenge. He went back to playing for his Sunday League team for the next three years and then signed for Spurs.

“I’m an Arsenal man through and through. But Harry Kane’s perseverance is a credit to him and his family.”

As well as setting new standards for Spurs, Kane is also England‘s record-breaking marksman.

He moved beyond Wayne Rooney‘s tally of 53 goals with a penalty in a 2-1 win over Italy last month.

Kane has now registered 55 goals in 82 games for his country, while also contributing 17 assists.

Kane recently became Tottenham’s all-time top scorerGetty