Benfica’s Adel Taarabt Reflects on Career Ups and Downs, Including Near-Miss PSG Transfer

It is to the magazine Goal that Adel Taarabt confided. Settled in Benfica in the Primeira Liga, he has experienced many shocks in 15 years of career that have led him to travel through 7 clubs in 4 different countries. An instability due to the realities of the world of football.

From the revelations, it emerges that the Moroccan player was close to joining PSG after helping QPR gain promotion to the Premier League in 2011, but the deal failed at the last minute. "Yes, after my season where I was promoted, yes, everything was done. I was talking to Nasser Al-Khelaifi and we were together, but he told me that we had to wait because Leonardo was going to arrive from Inter, but it didn’t happen because of the fees. I was already in Paris waiting."

After this failure, Adel Taarabt bounced back at AC Milan after a stint at Fulham in England. A temporary contract with the Rossoneri, where he impressed during his 16 appearances.

Only destiny called him elsewhere, as he did not fit into the plans of the new coach Filippo Inzaghi who took over the reins of the club in place of Clarence Seedorf. This is how Benfica recovered him for 4 million euros for a five-year contract. In the Primeira Liga, the Moroccan winger is chaining matches. He will help the club win the championship during the 2018-2019 season. After so many years of uncertainty, the player claims to be happy in this club where he maintains very good relations with his coach Jorge Jesus.