Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

'Harry Kane can be better than Gabriel Batistuta' - Mauricio Pochettino

Harry Kane can be even better than Argentina legend Gabriel Batistuta, according to Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who played alongside the Argentina legend at international level.

Kane scored his 100th and 101st career goals in Tottenham's 3-0 win at Everton on Saturday, meaning he has reached a century of goals for Spurs more quickly than Thierry Henry managed for Arsenal.

The England striker has won the Premier League Golden Boot in the last two seasons and Pochettino says he can surpass former Fiorentina and Roma striker Batistuta, who was Argentina's leading goal scorer before Lionel Messi broke the record last year.

"Batistuta was a killer," said Pochettino, who played with the forward for Argentina from 1991 to 2002. "Very strong mentality; very strong shot, great professional. You can compare.

"For me, OK, I put Batistuta there, " he said, raising one hand above the other, "and Harry there," with his other hand a little lower.

"But Harry can be better. He is a killer, Harry Kane. Look at the goals he scored the last years! Mental level? Yes. Absolutely [they are the same].

"Maybe they have different characteristics but I think he is in that level, with Batistuta."

Pochettino added: "I would put Harry Kane in with Batistuta. All that is happening to him he deserves. He is the protagonist of his life, and he deserves all the praise."

Meanwhile, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins says he tried to keep Fernando Llorente at the club, telling BBC Sport he offered the Spaniard an improved deal before he joined Tottenham.

Llorente, who is expected to be a back-up for Kane, joined Spurs for around £12 million on transfer deadline day but Jenkins said: "With Llorente we talked to him for weeks, there was a lot of talks about upgrading his contract and giving him a new two-year deal."

^ Back to Top ^