Former QPR manager Neil Warnock believes Adel Taarabt’s best days in England are behind him.
Taarabt has so far failed to make a real impact since moving on a season-long loan to Fulham in the wake of Rangers’ relegation from the Premier League.
He was keen to move on and had fallen out of favour under current R’s boss Harry Redknapp, who previously allowed him to leave Tottenham.
And although Warnock does not believe the door has been shut on the Moroccan returning to Loftus Road, he feels managers in this country will struggle to get the best out of him.
Warnock said: “I’d never say never. Adel was and still does remain a fans favourite at QPR.
“But I don’t think he’ll ever have another season like the one he had with me though, and that’s no disrespect to Harry or any other manager.
“I just can’t see another manager in England having a go with him for 12 months.”
Taarabt, 24, produced the best football of his career under Warnock, netting 19 times as QPR clinched promotion to the top flight in 2011.
And Warnock says getting the best out of the maverick playmaker is the finest achievement of his managerial career.
“For me it’s my biggest achievement as a manager – no-one else could manage him,” he said.
“People talk about the trouble he caused and all this, but he repaid me and gave me the best year of my career. It’s always the so-called bad ones who win you games isn’t it?
“I love to know that he’ll always remember me managing him. It’s very difficult to manage Adel and to get the best out of him.
“That’s probably why Harry is glad he’s gone to Fulham, so then there’s no chance of a problem.
“I can’t see him featuring regularly for Fulham if I’m honest, but we’ll have to see.”
Warnock and Taarabt had a rocky relationship during their time together in west London.
But the former Sheffield United boss insists they have stayed on good terms.
“I last spoke to Adel about three weeks ago and it was like we were both still at QPR,” he said.
“I treat him like my lad. I loved him to bits and still do. He gave me some of the best moments of my career.
“That’s why when we get together we’re still very close and he still calls me ‘gaffer’. I think that shows the kind of relationship we have.”
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This post was last modified on 24/10/2013