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Danny Murphy makes claim about Adel Taarabt in Tottenham training as he makes comparison with Steven Gerrard
Tottenham Hotspur have had some incredible young talents over the years.
Dele Alli was a two-time PFA Young Player of the Year winner, Gareth Bale was tormenting European giants at the age of just 21, while Harry Kane burst onto the scene at a young age too.
However, perhaps the most naturally talented young player to play for Tottenham was a player who ultimately wouldn’t make it at Spurs.
Indeed, speaking to Open Goal, Danny Murphy has named Adel Taarabt as one of the best young players he’s ever seen, claiming that the midfielder was up there with Steven Gerrard in terms of what he was doing in training.
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Adel Taarabt compared to Steven Gerrard
Murphy named Taarabt as one of the best young players he’s ever seen.
The pundit claimed that Taarabt was incredible in training at Tottenham, and he was just as impressive as Steven Gerrard at times.
“Who’s the best young player you’ve seen on first impression where it’s like ‘oh my god, he’s the best I’ve seen’ is it Gerrard?” Murphy said.
“There was an obvious wow with Gerrard, yeah. I remember the kid at Tottenham Adel Taarabt coming in, it was like ‘oh my god’. That was a different wow, but Stevie grew into a monster of a footballer,” Murphy said.
Why didn’t Adel Taarabt make it at Tottenham?
Everything you hear about Adel Taarabt suggests that he was a supremely talented player.
Indeed, Nedum Onuoha has named Taarabt as one of the best players he’s ever played with, and he’s not the only one.
So, why didn’t Taarabt make it at Tottenham?
As with many players of this ability level, Taarabt’s attitude was a bit of an issue.
Indeed, Jermain Defoe has previously described Taarabt as a nightmare, claiming that he was too flashy and he didn’t eat correctly.
“I remember Adel Taarabt, in training and that he would try all these tricks and lads used to get frustrated that he didn’t train well,’ Defoe said.
“He didn’t eat stuff that we were meant to be eating but then we played against someone, right, at home and he did that thing – I saw it on Instagram.
“He used to get it and roll it, and flick it back. He used to do mad stuff. Naturally so gifted.
“He used to just do his stuff in the game and you would think that this kid is unbelievable but you used to have to try and get hold of him because you’d think this kid is a nightmare.”
Taarabt did carve out a respectable career for himself at Premier League level with QPR after a move from Spurs before a renaissance at Benfica, but there’s still this feeling that he could’ve achieved so much more.