Alex McLeish has suggested Harry Kane’s five-star display for Tottenham against Manchester City will have hurt Pep Guardiola.
Kane was at his very best for Spurs last Saturday as he notched twice in his side’s shock 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
But the performance could have been flipped on its head had the 28-year-old managed to secure a move to City last summer.
Last season’s Premier League champions allegedly tabled a bid as high as 150 million (£125m) according to Fabrizio Romano, which was firmly rejected by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Kane has struggled to net the goals this term since the failed move, recording just seven in 23 league appearances (Transfermarkt), but McLeish believes his recent showing against City will have ‘hurt’ Guardiola.
This comes after Man City sources allegedly told Football Insider that chiefs at the club had privately admitted signing Jack Grealish over Kane was a mistake.
McLeish told Football Insider: “That was a really sore one for Pep, especially having tried to get him.
“You don’t say Harry’s rubbed it in but he’s just showed you why Pep Guardiola wanted him. He had to come and haunt Man City.
“I don’t think he necessarily wanted to hurt Pep but he’s obviously shown his prowess. Earlier in the season, people were doubting [him].
“I compared him to Alan Shearer. He used to say, when he missed a chance or two, he’d flick the dandruff off his shoulder and get on with it.
“These guys, they know they’ll score again and once they get that bit of confidence, they’re off and running.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It was pretty ironic to see Kane record his best performance of the season and maybe his Tottenham career against the team that chased him and he wanted to join.
No doubt it would have been painful for Guardiola to see it unfolding in front of him, but they were up against Levy who made it very clear to them that Kane was not up for sale.