Adel Taarabt blew Man United move after fight with teammate, rejected Arsenal and went out the night before games

Adel Taarabt became a cult hero at QPR, and it’s fair to say his antics might not have been tolerated anywhere else.

After calling time on a memorable career which saw him dazzle Premier League fans with his skill and flair, the Moroccan joined talkSPORT Drive to reveal all about his days in the limelight.

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The streets won’t forget

Taarabt’s name is one remembered fondly by English football supporters, especially at QPR.

While his playing days saw him turn out for the likes of Tottenham, AC Milan and Benfica, he is best known for his time at Loftus Road.

A mercurial talent, Taarabt first joined the Hoops on loan from Spurs in 2009 before signing permanently, and went on to make 164 appearances, scoring 34 goals and assisting 41 more.

During this time he became a cult icon, as his outrageous skills and dribbling ability saw him deliver arguably the the best individual season in Championship history in the 2010/11 season.

He scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists to guide QPR back to the Premier League, before going on to dazzle in the top flight.

Taarabt reveals Sir Alex Ferguson U-turn

Taarabt’s stunning displays at QPR made him one of football’s most exciting prospects and he was often heavily tipped for a big move.

Among his admirers were a dominant Manchester United managed by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who even travelled to Hull to catch him in action in a Championship clash in January 2011.

But Taarabt has revealed any chance of a move fell apart after chaos ensued when he fought with senior teammate Shaun Derry.

He told talkSPORT Drive: “There was one time, we were first in the Championship and I know that game, Sir Alex Ferguson came only for me.

“We were playing at Hull City, and he just came because he wanted to sign me.

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“Then after 42 minutes, I fought with Shan Derry during the game and I went to the touchline. I said to [my manager] Neil Warnock, ‘You’re gonna change me now, I’m going out.’

“And then Ferguson said, ‘What? He’s crazy this boy’.”

While Ferguson had seen enough, such was Taarabt’s importance at QPR that his manager – the iconic Neil Warnock – ignored his calls to be substituted and instead took aim at Derry.

He continued: “Neil Warnock said, ‘No, I’m not going change you, stay here’. I was just standing for four minutes on the touchline. I said ‘Change me. I want to go out.’

“And then after half time, Neil Warnock went and destroyed Shaun Derry. 

“He said, ‘This is the first and last time you speak to him. If he wants the ball, give him it. Don’t talk to him, otherwise I’ll change you, you will never play for me’. 

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“And then after that, I think Sir Alex Ferguson said: ‘I cannot take a boy with this mentality’.”

Turning down Arsenal

While Taarabt saw any chance of a move to Man United disappear in a flash, he turned down a chance to join Arsenal on his own terms.

Despite being offered opportunity to play European football under another icon in Arsene Wenger, the maverick star revealed he opted to stay at QPR as he was earning better wages, and was keen to avoid a repeat of his struggles at Spurs.

He explained: “I spoke with Wenger and he told me to come, he said, ‘I will offer you with Champions League [football]’.

“But already, what he offered me on wages was much lower than what I was earning at QPR before I signed my new contract. 

“In the end I said: ‘No, if QPR is going to give me a new contract, I’m not coming to Arsenal and having to fight for your position, [where you’re] not sure if you’ll play every week.

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“So even though it was a good offer, I said, ‘No, I’m not going.”

London’s night owl

While most players would feel the pressure to perform as their team’s star player, Taarabt was the opposite.

The Hoops legend admitted he’d often be out until the early hours the night before a game, with his love of London’s nightlife such that Drive host and former Spurs teammate Darren Bent once claiming this prompted Taarabt to turn down a move to Liverpool.

Taarabt admitted: “Sometimes the day of the game I was going out.”

He added: “Let’s say Saturday, I’d go out on Friday night and then we’d have meeting at Loftus Road at one o’clock for the game at three.”

Most managers might take a dim view to this approach – especially from their captain – but not the legendary Warnock.

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Explaining how he juggled his social life and QPR responsibilities, Taarabt brazenly said: “At that age, for me it was really easy. 

“I was the captain so before the match we’d go to see the referee with the coach – so with Neil.

“He told me: ‘Listen, son I know you were out last night, but just go out there and win the game for me’.”

Taarabt and Neil Warnock

Taarabt’s unique relationship with then QPR boss Warnock is no secret, with the popular English manager previously revealing he bent his own rules to accommodate the player’s strong personality given his huge talent.

But asked about Warnock’s role in his career, Taarabt cheekily quipped: “I think I was more important to him than he was to me!”

Opening up on the special treatment he received at QPR, he then shared: “Sometimes I wasn’t training five days [a week]. I’d just come on Friday, and play Saturdays!”

Taarabt added: “Neil Warnock – he’s not crazy tactically or sometimes his training, I didn’t like. 

“So he just told me: ‘You just have to come [when you want] to be happy’.”

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Juande Ramos labelled the ‘worst’

With Warnock clearly a favourite manager during his time, Taarabt was less glowing about one coach during his time at Tottenham.

After joining the club under Martin Jol in 2007, the enigmatic former star struggled for game time – making just 15 appearances overall – and things went from bad to worse when Juande Ramos took over.

Discussing his first pre-season at Spurs, Taarabt told talkSPORT: “I was thinking I’m gonna start the season on fire. 

“Then suddenly I was dropped, not playing. But it was not a stable club – every six months [they were] changing coach and for a young player it’s not good.

“The worst one was Ramos – I could not understand anything from this guy. After that I said: ‘[It’s] better I leave’.”