Adel Taarabt reflects on Milan struggles and Benfica tenure

Former Moroccan midfielder Adel Taarabt has reflected on the highs and lows of his professional career in a series of interviews with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Recalling his time at AC Milan in 2014, Taarabt described falling into depression after manager Filippo Inzaghi decided not to retain him despite his strong performances. He detailed a heated training ground confrontation with Kaká, where a disagreement over a pass led Taarabt to briefly lose his temper and grab the Brazilian player by the neck before they reconciled. He also noted the intense playing style of teammate Ignazio Abate and his close, father-son relationship with Clarence Seedorf.

Regarding his tenure at SL Benfica, Taarabt revealed a difficult first two years under manager Rui Vitória, claiming the coach would not even greet him. His situation improved under Bruno Lage, and he eventually secured a move to Al Nasr in 2021 following a pact with Rui Costa.

Taarabt also shared insights on current football figures, praising Ruben Amorim as a top-tier, direct coach and offering tactical observations on players like Gonçalo Ramos and Diego Moreira.