Pep Guardiola has described Harry Kane as "one the best strikers I've ever seen" as Manchester City prepare to face Tottenham this weekend.
Kane was a transfer target of Guardiola's two years ago only to see Spurs reject City's advances. The Premier League champions 12 months later turned to Erling Haaland.
The Tottenham talisman is one goal away from becoming the club's all-time top scorer across all competitions, and could break the record at home to City on Sunday.
Kane’s lack of silverware for Spurs is a popular talking point among rival fans, but Guardiola has dismissed such a notion as important as he lavished the player with praise.
"I'm extremely happy with Erling and, of course, Tottenham are happy with Kane," he said, noting past interest in the striker. "What an exceptional player.
"The numbers [Kane] has done, more than just the goals but the quality. They haven't won a title so he's not a good player? He has proved the statistics isn't in the titles.
"He remains one of the best strikers I have seen in my life. Are managers bad if they don't win titles?"
Spurs signed Pedro Porro on deadline day, bringing the former City defender back to the Premier League.
Guardiola says Porro was on his “list”, hinting at interest given City’s reduced buy-back clause, but insists no approach was made.
"[Porro] is perfect to play five at the back," he said. "Last season we suffered when we played against Sporting.
"He is a good signing for Spurs. No [we didn't think about re-signing him], he was on the list but we didn't think about the buy-back. He decided to go to Spurs."
