ADEL TAARABT is hoping to kick-start his career in France – after a nightmare spell at Benfica.
The former Spurs and QPR midfielder, 27, has struggled since leaving England in 2014 and signed a five-year deal with the Portuguese giants last term.
But he has been unable to break into the first-team and is now turning out for Benfica B in the Portuguese second tier.
It’s a remarkable fall from grace for a player blessed with as much natural talent as Taaradt, who burst onto the scene during a loan spell at QPR in 2009.
He netted seven times that season – including a few super individual efforts – to earn a permanent move to Loftus Road.
But poor form and lack of fitness resulted in Harry Redknapp losing his rag over the Moroccan lack of effort in training.
In 2014 he fumed: “I pick people who want to try, who come in every day and work, train and show a good attitude.
“When he starts doing that, if he ever can, maybe he’ll get a game. I can’t protect people who don’t want to run and train, and are about three stone overweight.’
“What am I supposed to say? Keep getting your 60, 70 grand a week and don’t train?”
Taarabt is desperate to turn his career around though and spoke with French daily France Football about his desire to move back to the country where he began his career.
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He said: “I just want a club that has trust in me. We are in talks with several clubs.
“[Marseilles] is the city where I grew up, where my parents live. It would be nice to go back home, to my family.
“For me it would be the perfect club, the one I need. With the experience I have, I know what a club like OM would expect of me.
“If I did go back, it would not be for fun. It would be nice to return to France, I miss it. I have been abroad for 10 years.”
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