The Tottenham manager says Morata was not prepared to be Kane’s back-up and went back to Real Madrid before moving to Stamford Bridge this summer.
But Pochettino’s revelation keeps his battle with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte simmering ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The Italian angered the Spurs manager last week for talking about his admiration for Kane before questioning the Argentinian’s ambition.
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.’”
Pochettino is desperately trying to reinforce his squad but believes finding the right fit has been tough.
Spurs have yet to make a signing but he will not break the bank for the sake of it.
“It’s so difficult to convince good players to come and then be on the bench,” said Pochettino.
“Then the problems start. You know better than me. Kane doesn’t play, 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.”
