West Ham's Michail Antonio has revealed he cried when his mother blocked him from joining Tottenham's academy as a teenager.
The winger has scored in three successive league games for the Hammers as Slaven Bilic's men cling to the coattails of those occupying the Champions League qualification spots.
Indeed, wins over Sunderland, Tottenham and Everton have left West Ham just one point behind Manchester City, albeit having played a game more, and summer signing Antonio has been key to their recent form.
But the 25-year-old missed a chance to join one of England's biggest clubs much earlier in his career, when Tottenham attempted to sign him but was told his schoolwork should take precedence.
"I was 14 and I played for my school team," Antonio told Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday. "One of my teachers also coached for Spurs at the time.
"A scout came out, watched one of my school games and was looking to sign me and another one of my friends. [He] signed for them, didn't manage to get through to the academy, but played for the juniors.
"My mum said because I was living in south west London at the time I needed to concentrate on my education, because I would be commuting there and getting back home quite late.
"I was crying. I'm not going to lie. I was crying. I was like, 'You've ruined my life, mum'.
"She made me, to be honest. I still managed to finish my school work, I managed to go to college and stuff like that, so I feel I've done it the right way.
