Coming through the ranks at Tottenham after his early switch from USL Dunkerque, Nabil Bentaleb’s stay with Spurs over the next six years was a series of ups and downs.
He eventually left the London club in 2016 on a loan to Schalke 04, who then bought him for €19m, where he stayed until 2020.
The former Tottenham midfielder then made a brief return to English football when Newcastle brought him on loan, only to return six months later to Germany, where he remained until his contract ran out in 2021.
He was then left without a club until 2022, when Angers SCO took a chance on him, which allowed him to rejuvenate his career, and he is now doing well, even if the team as a whole are struggling.
The midfielder, still only 28, was interviewed by La Gazette du Fennec, and was asked directly whether it was Tottenham who wanted him gone in 2016.
He said: “No, it was me. It was me. Like I’ve already said, I was young, and stupid. I rushed, I did everything to force an exit when they were really counting on me at Tottenham, but when I had an idea in mind, I wanted to see it through. That made me leave. It did help me to leave, but, if you ask me now, looking back, I would have stayed.”
During his time at Tottenham, the midfielder made 66 appearances in all competitions, scored one goal and picked up six assists.
