Mauricio
Pochettino has revealed Alvaro Morata turned down Tottenham because he
feared playing back-up to Harry Kane.
Morata joined Chelsea from Real Madrid last month for a fee that could rise
to £70m, two years after Pochettino attempted to sign the Spain
international for Spurs.
Pochettino has now claimed the new Blues recruit, who has been told by
Antonio Conte that he needs to improve his physical condition to break into
the Chelsea team, rejected his offer over concerns about playing second
fiddle to Kane.
"Morata talked about myself, in the media he said 'Mauricio called me'. That
was two years ago or more," Pochettino said.
"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? I can't compete with Harry Kane or Hugo Lloris or
different players.'
"It's so difficult to convince good players to come and then be on the
bench. Then the problems start."
Kane has been the Premier League's leading goalscorer for the last two
seasons and Conte last week said if there was one striker he could sign, it
would be the 24-year-old England international, who he described as "a
complete player".
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