‘I Played With Bale and Modric but £3m Spurs Flop Was Better Than Both in Training’

Tottenham Hotspur can’t flaunt trophy success in the modern era, but they have brought some of the most entertaining footballers to the Premier League. There have always been one or two creative gems in Spurs’ side, no matter the situation.

That was the case during the mid-2000s when Harry Redknapp assembled one of the finest teams in the North Londoners’ history. A young Gareth Bale had arrived from Southampton, Luka Modric had embarked on his journey towards Ballon d’Or brilliance, and Dimitar Berbatov was captivating fans with his delicate touch and clinical finishing.

The trio have Tottenham to thank for the important role the club played in their hugely successful careers, but the pressure of representing the Lilywhites can weigh heavily on young budding prospects’ shoulders. That was the case for one of the biggest letdowns in the club’s history.

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Pascal Chimbonda Snubbed Modric and Bale In Spurs’ Best Trainer Debate

He gave a glowing verdict of one of Redknapp’s flops

Pascal Chimbonda was part of the last Tottenham side to win silverware, claiming the League Cup in 2008 with a 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea. One player who wasn’t named in the matchday squad was Adel Taarabt, a £3 million signing from French outfit RC Lens who’d initially joined on loan.

Taarabt was a major disappointment at White Hart Lane, managing just nine Premier League appearances across three seasons. The Moroccan instead caught the eye at Queens Park Rangers with several loan spells before a permanent switch in the summer of 2010.

Spurs failed to get the best out of Taarabt, but Chimbonda revealed just how impressive he was during training sessions (via Spurs Web):

When Taarabt was on song, he was a terror with the ball at his feet, dribbling his way past the opposition easily and displaying clever creativity. His best years came at QPR with Neil Warnock, where he helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League in the 2010/11 season. He conjured up a ridiculous tally and arguably the best performance the second tier has ever seen from a player.

Taarabt spent spells on loan at Fulham and AC Milan while QPR struggled before leaving English football in 2015. He moved into a central midfield role during the latter stages of his career with Benfica and Genoa, and at 35 years old, he looks likely to hang up his boots at his current club, Sharjah FC, in the United Arab Emirates.

Taarabt: I Wanted To Join Arsenal Over Tottenham

The ex-Spurs man was keen on playing under Arsene Wenger

Taarabt’s Tottenham troubles have marred a fine career that should have seen the 30-cap Morocco international become a top Premier League talent. He didn’t help himself as he bumped heads with Redknapp, who accused him of being ‘the worst professional’ he’d ever encountered.

It could have been all so different had the 2019 Primera Liga champion had his way when a move to England was on the horizon in 2007. He told The National in 2024:

Taarabt’s lack of first-team opportunities at Spurs justifies his stance against younger players not getting a chance. He joined the North London club at a time when their rivals Arsenal were relying on youth following a stadium move to the Emirates, which meant investing in top stars wasn’t on Arsene Wenger’s agenda.

Wenger had a proven track record of developing young guns into some of Europe’s most coveted players, such as Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, and Cesc Fabregas. The Frenchman might have gotten a young Taarabt to focus on progressing into the ‘next Zidane’, as French football had viewed him while at Lens, instead of stumbling into a Spurs nightmare.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 10/04/2025.

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