Adel Taarabt's parting shot to Tottenham: I wish I had joined Arsenal

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11 April 2012

Adel Taarabt regrets signing for Tottenham three years ago — and admits he should have joined north London rivals Arsenal instead.

The Morocco playmaker was hailed as the new Zinedine Zidane' when he moved from French club Lens for £3million in January 2007.

But after failing to make the breakthrough at White Hart Lane, Taarabt has spent the last year on loan at Queens Park Rangers and is now desperate to leave Spurs this summer.

Rather than join Tottenham, the 20-year-old feels he would have been given more of a chance at Emirates Stadium and should have signed for Arsene Wenger rather than following Damien Comolli, who had been Arsenal's European scout before becoming director of football at Spurs.

"I was going to go to Arsenal and Comolli was there with Wenger," said Taarabt.

"But he went to Tottenham so I went there. That was a big mistake for me. My friends in England — like Armand Traore and Abou Diaby at Arsenal — told me Tottenham were not the right fit for me.

"The big mistake was to sign for Tottenham and not go to another club when I first came over."

Although Taarabt was happy under his first Spurs boss, Martin Jol, the Dutchman's sacking in October 2007 triggered the beginning of the end for the player.

The Moroccan never felt comfortable during Juande Ramos's year at the club with his frustrations summed up by one match.

He said: "Juande Ramos didn't know me at all and I had one bad performance when we lost 4-1 to Newcastle and after that he never gave me my chance."

Taarabt only played the last half hour of that game in March 2008 but lost possession for the final goal of the rout and subsequently the faith of the manager, who never picked him again.

In fact, it wasn't until the start of last year that Taarabt appeared for Spurs again but after three brief substitute appearances he was sent out on loan to Loftus Road.

"Harry Redknapp told me I was a fantastic player with a big talent but he wanted me to go to the Championship, play some games and then come back to play for him," said Taarabt. "But I don't want to go back to Tottenham."

Taarabt has his sights set on Spain and his turbulent spell in England hasn't affected his confidence. Spurs may be dreaming of Champions League football next season but Taarabt is too.

"England is not for me, I think La Liga is the best League for me," he said. "[I don't like] how they play in England, I like to play football! I look at teams like Bolton, Stoke or Wolves and say: There is just no point for me'. I hate that style of football.

"I have one more year on my contract this season and I hope that Tottenham make a deal in the summer. If not, I will go for free next summer.

"I hope to be playing for one of the top four in Spain next season — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Sevilla. I have contact with good teams and I know that they want me. Now I just have to hope they can agree a deal with Tottenham."

For the moment, though, he's focusing on QPR and is determined to sign off from the club in style by keeping them in the Championship after being given added responsibility by new boss Neil Warnock.

"He has said he wants to rely on me and that means a lot," said the player, who has scored twice during Warnock's four-game reign.

"I am looking to enjoy these last two months and make some good performances so we can avoid relegation."

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Adel Taarabt's parting shot to Tottenham: I wish I had joined Arsenal

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