Adel Taarabt might not be a Premier League footballer anymore, but his story remains one of great interest to a lot of football fans in England.
Departing QPR to play for Benfica in Portugal, the forward never made an appearance for the club’s first-team due to a mixture of manager changes, weight problems and off the field incidents.
Speaking to France Football, he said: “I’m not desperate to play in Europe, I just want a club that believes in me to play. We’re talking to a few clubs.
“[Marseille] is the city where I grew up, where my parents live. That would be a cool return home near my family. We were speaking about Hatem Ben Arfa [rejuvenating his career in France], but Lassana Diarra also relaunched himself at Marseille last year.
“They would be the ideal club, the one I need. I like pressure. With the experience that I have, I know a team what a team like OM will want from me. Today, I really miss football. If I come back, it wouldn’t be to mess around.”
It’s worth remembering Adel Taarabt hasn’t been in France since 2007, when he was bought from Lens by Tottenham for just over £3m.
Spells at QPR, Fulham and AC Milan, mostly all on loan, have shaped a nomadic career for a player constantly labelled as inconsistent.
Perhaps some consistency in his life, his football club, is exactly what the 27-year-old needs to find form on the pitch?
