Mauricio Pochettino: Alvaro Morata chose not to join Tottenham because of Harry Kane - 7M sport

Mauricio Pochettino: Alvaro Morata chose not to join Tottenham because of Harry Kane

MAURICIO POCHETTINO claims Chelsea's £70m striker Alvaro Morata didn't fancy a move to Tottenham - because of Harry Kane.


Posted Wednesday, August 02, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Mauricio Pochettino: Alvaro Morata chose not to join Tottenham because of Harry Kane
Chelsea star Alvaro Morata spoke to Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino

Morata finally quit Real Madrid this summer to sign for the Premier League champions, who moved for him after missing out on Romelu Lukaku.

But Pochettino claims he first moved for the Spain star two years ago only for Morata to say no because he wasn't prepared to play second fiddle to Kane.

Pochettino said: "Morata talked about myself in the media. He said: 'Mauricio called me'. That was from the beginning, two years ago or more.

"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 can't compete with Harry Kane' or Hugo Lloris or different players."

It's a revelation that looks set to continue the war of words which has erupted between Pochettino and Blues boss Antonio Conte.

The Italian angered Pochettino last week by saying Kane was the one striker in the world he would buy if he could.

Now the Spurs boss has hit back by suggesting Chelsea have ended up with a big-money striker who admits he isn't as good as the England star.

Tottenham are the only Premier League title contender yet to spend big in the transfer market, but won't break the bank for the sake of it.

Pochettino said: "It's so difficult to convince good players to come and then be on the bench. Then the problems starts.

"You know better than me. Kane doesn't play - (he gets) frustrated, disappointed and his motivation drops.

"Then it's better to play with younger players through the academy that you can improve them and teach them and maybe one day they can become a very good player and then their motivation is always higher.

"That is important too. If you are a player in Manchester United and you don't perform you are out. But at Tottenham, we are a completely different project.

"Here it is to play like a team, together and we need all the players motivated, the players that play a lot and the players who will not play.

"That balance is difficult and that is why we are different too."



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