AliousTottenham Hotspur has produced some outstanding young talents over the years. Dele Alli, for example, won the PFA Young Player of the Year twice, Gareth Bale was making waves across Europe at just 21, and Harry Kane emerged as a star from a young age. Yet, perhaps the most naturally gifted young player to ever feature at Tottenham was someone who ultimately didn’t fulfill his potential at the club.
In an interview with Open Goal, Danny Murphy highlighted Adel Taarabt as one of the best young players he’d ever witnessed, comparing the midfielder’s raw talent to that of Steven Gerrard, particularly in training sessions. Murphy explained that, in terms of first impressions, Taarabt stood out similarly to Gerrard, with jaw-dropping moments that made him one of the most talented players he’d seen at such a young age. However, unlike Gerrard, who developed into one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Taarabt’s career at Tottenham stalled.
So why didn’t Adel Taarabt make it at Spurs? While his talent was undeniable—so much so that former players like Nedum Onuoha have listed him among the best they’ve played with—his attitude was often cited as the reason for his failure to break through. Jermain Defoe once described Taarabt as a “nightmare,” noting that he was overly flashy, didn’t train properly, and ignored the team’s dietary guidelines. Defoe recalled moments in training when Taarabt’s extravagant tricks frustrated his teammates. However, once on the pitch, Taarabt would perform extraordinary feats, leaving everyone in awe of his natural ability, even if his approach to the game was problematic.
Although Taarabt went on to enjoy a respectable career, including a successful spell at QPR after a £1 million transfer and a later resurgence at Benfica, there remains a sense that his immense potential was never fully realized.
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