Frozen out completely by Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, Nabil Bentaleb is, as you’re probably fully aware by now, making a name for himself in Germany on loan at Schalke 04.
Scoring five goals in his last five games with the Bundesliga side, the player is also an Algeria international, called up by Georges Leekens for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria on Saturday.
Speaking to local newspaper Le Buteur, the player sat down to discuss his time in Germany so far, as well as looking back at his time at Tottenham, with whom he is still under contract until 2020.
Explaining that language is currently his biggest obstacle because German is ‘difficult’, the player is completely at ease at his new club, especially with the likes of Benedikt Höwedes hoping for his stay to be extended for next season.
As for his time at Tottenham, he said: “I can’t say I left Tottenham in difficult conditions because when you don’t play in a club, it’s quite complex. At the same time, I know that it’s part of the life of a footballer.
“I don’t hold a grudge with anyone. The manager had a good season, and you can’t criticise him. Down my end, I got injured, and when I came back, it was hard to impose myself.”
Playing as an 8 or a 10 in Schalke’s 3-5-2, the player is given more freedom than at Tottenham where he was a 4 or a 6, with the manager asking him to ‘steer the team’, something he is ‘completely at ease with’.
Let’s be honest, with Schalke rumoured to have a €19m buyout clause in the loan deal combined with the form he is in, there’s little chance Tottenham fans will see the player don Spurs’ white jersey ever again.
Then again, Pochettino might be so impressed with his performances in Germany, he could ask him to come back. We doubt that, though.
