Pictures of Harry Kane statue ‘kept in storage since 2020’ emerge
Photos have emerged showing a statue of England captain Harry Kane, which has apparently been languishing in storage in east London for more than three years.
The statue’s existence was confirmed last month, having reportedly been completed in 2020 – one year after it was commissioned by Waltham Forest Council.
The images, first obtained by the Big Issue, show a metallic Kane sitting on a green bench and holding a football on his thigh with his left hand.
England’s record goalscorer, who now plays for Bayern Munich after moving from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, is said to have been positive about the statue.
In February, his representatives were quoted as saying they “will be happy to go” to unveil the artwork once the location has been decided.
Potential locations, according to The Guardian, had included Chingford Rail Station and Ridgeway Park, which is where Walthamstow-born Kane played football as a youngster.
But a permanent home for the statue remains undetermined.
The pictures, reportedly sent to the council by Sculpture Machine, have caused a stir on social media, with some questioning whether a footballer should be sitting on a bench in this way and others poking fun at its chocolate appearance.
Some have drawn comparisons with a widely-mocked statue of Cristiano Ronaldo, which was unveiled in Madeira Airport, in Portugal, in 2017.
This was replaced in 2018 by another bust of the former Manchester United winger, who was born in Madeira, reportedly at his family’s request.
Another world football legend, Diego Maradona, was further immortalised in a statue in Kolkata, India, in 2017.
The Argentinian’s image was not exactly reflected in the monument, which he helped to unveil.
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Beyond football, Andy Murray posed by a statue of himself – modelled in the style of a terracotta warrior – in Shanghai, China.
Some fans may have wished those statues also remained in storage.