Latest news with #AdelTaarabt
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Former Tottenham star admits he should have signed for rivals Arsenal instead
Tottenham signed Adel Taarabt in 2007 but he struggled to get into the first team and he later became a success at QPR - though the midfielder has now admitted he perhaps should have joined their rivals Arsenal first Adel Taarabt has stuck the boot into old club Tottenham after admitting he wishes he joined rivals Arsenal instead. The Moroccan star was often a divisive figure during his time in the Premier League but there was no doubt about his eye-catching talent in midfield as he later became a cult favourite at QPR. But things weren't so simple when he arrived in England with Tottenham as he struggled to get into the first team. He managed just 15 appearances in his first three seasons before being loaned to QPR in the 2008-09 season. It was at Loftus Road where he left fans in awe with his breathless displays in midfield - scoring 19 goals in the 2010-11 season as he helped the team win promotion under Neil Warnock. He later played for Fulham, AC Milan, Benfica and Genoa and is now competing the UAE with Sharjah FC. Reflecting on his time at Spurs during an interview with talkSPORT, he said he might have gone in a different direction in hindsight because Arsenal had more French-speaking players. 'My first choice that I think was not good was - not to sign for Tottenham, because Tottenham is a good club - but at that time I had offers to go to Arsenal and it was a more French club with Arsene Wenger and a lot of French players. 'At Tottenham, I arrived in the dressing room with Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, big characters, difficult to get a chance. I followed Damien Comoli, he was at Arsenal, I should've gone to Arsenal, but suddenly he was at Tottenham and he brought me there.' Taarabt was renowned for his incredible footwork and creative vision during his time in the Premier League, but he also made headlines for his poor attitude, workrate and off the pitch incidents. Harry Redknapp once accused him of being overweight and unfit at QPR and once stormed off after being substituted against Fulham. His former QPR boss Neil Warnock spoke to him live on air during the same interview and joked he would fine the player - admitting he could be "hard work" but praised his incredible ability on his day. "Next time you come on, will you watch your language or I'll be fining you!" he jokingly told his former player. "I get people stopping me in the street thanking me for that year [2010/11], saying: 'Adel, how good was he?' "We had problems and you were hard work at times, but the pleasure that you gave me and the fans was fabulous." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Morocco World
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Adel Taarabt Joins Sharjah FC in Free Transfer Deal
Rabat – Moroccan footballer Adel Taarabt has signed with Sharjah FC in a free transfer deal, the Emirati club announced the move on Sunday. Sharjah FC posted a message on social media saying: 'We welcome Moroccan star Adel Taarabt to the ranks of the King. Taarabt joins the Sharjah battalion to strengthen the team in the upcoming challenges. Welcome to your new home, artist of Morocco.' Taarabt's move comes after he and Al-Nasr FC agreed to part ways by mutual consent. He had been with Al-Nasr since the summer of 2022, but his contract ended earlier this year. Some reports suggest Taarabt asked to leave after a disagreement with Al-Nasr's coach, Alfred Schroeder. Taarabt was a free agent after he terminated his contract with Al-Nasr FC by mutual consent after 2 years in the club. Reports suggest that Taarabet asked to leave after a disagreement with his former coach, Alfred Schroeder. At Al-Nasr, Taarabt played 11 matches this season, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists. Before moving to the UAE, Taarabt had an impressive career with European football giants including Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, and Benfica. Sharjah FC currently lead the UAE Arabian Gulf league with 34 points, and are gearing up for an important semi-final match in the President's Cup against Baniyas today, January 27. Taarabt is expected to bring much-needed experience and skill to Sharjah's midfield as they look to bolster their position at the top of the table and win their second league title.
