Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata rejected a move to Tottenham because he didn’t want to compete for a place with Harry Kane, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
Morata became Chelsea’s club-record signing after joining from Real Madrid in a £70million deal last month.
But Pochettino has revealed that the Spain international had an opportunity to move to Spurs instead.
However the Tottenham manager claims the striker turned down the opportunity as he was wary of current Spurs striker Kane being the first-choice forward at the club.
‘Morata talked about me in the media and said: “Mauricio called me.” That was from the beginning, two years ago or more,’ said the Spurs boss.
‘He said to me: “Why do you want me if you have Harry Kane?”
‘You know, if you go to try to sign a striker, they will say: “Eh gaffer, you want me for what? To be on the bench?
‘”Because it’s Harry Kane, I cannot compete with Harry Kane or Hugo Lloris or different players.”‘
The comments from Pochettino come after Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admitted he rated Kane as one of the very best strikers on the planet.
‘For me, Kane, now, is one of the best strikers in the world. If I had to buy one striker I would go to Kane. He is a complete striker,’ said the Italian.
Kane scored 29 goals last season to claim the Premier League’s Golden Boot award and take his overall tally to 78 from 116 appearances.
Responding to Conte’s comments, the committed Spurs striker said: ‘Obviously it’s kind word. ‘But I’m focused on my team now and what my manager thinks.
‘I’m out here concentrating on what I need to do, and being fit for the new season.’
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