Taarabt signs new contract at QPR
442 Staff - Wednesday 11 July 2012, 17:02
Adel Taarabt has signed a new deal with Queens Park Rangers, tying him to the club until 2016.
The Moroccan looked set to leave the R’s last summer following a
prolific Championship campaign which saw him net 19 goals in 44
appearances.
The club fended off interest from Paris Saint-Germain and, despite a
slow start to the season, Taarabt eventually began to show his previous
form as Mark Hughes' men staved off the threat of relegation on the
last day of the season.
His performances have seen him rewarded with a new three-year extension at Loftus Road.
“QPR talisman Adel Taarabt has signed a new long-term contract at Loftus Road,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“The magical Moroccan - who will wear the number 10 shirt next
season - has put pen to paper on a three-year extension, tying him to
the club until the summer of 2016.”
The 23-year-old, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in 2010, was
delighted with the deal, adding: "I am very pleased to have signed this
new contract.
"When I first arrived here I honestly thought it would just be for a
short period but I love this club and the people here have really
helped me and I am very happy to be here.
"I had a tough start to the season last year, but I worked hard and I have really enjoyed it under Mark Hughes.
"The club is getting bigger and bigger, and with a new training ground and talk of a new stadium it is very exciting.
"In the time I have been here QPR's ambition has changed. Last year
the aim was to stay in the Premier League. We achieved this and now we
want to progress and improve. Nobody is speaking about what we can
achieve but we really want to move up the Premier League table."
Manager Hughes added: "It is important that we keep good, young
players at QPR because that is going to drive what we want to do and
Adel is a big part of that.
"There is no question he can produce moments of skill that not many players can.
"And you need those game-changing players who can do something
unexpected because that can be the difference between winning and
losing in tight games.
"Adel had a period here where it was a little bit difficult for him
and the club, but he came through that. When I came to the club, in my
eyes it was a clean slate for him and he had a real opportunity to be
part of what we are doing."
He continued: "I have seen a real effort from Adel and the quality
of his work last year was good, both in an attacking sense and
defensively. He has embraced what we are trying to do.
"He is undoubtedly a talented boy but he understands he has got
other aspects of his game which he needs to work on and he has shown a
real effort to do that.
"Defending is not a natural part of Adel's game but he understands
that there is an obligation for any player who plays for me to
recognise it's not all about playing when we have the ball in our
possession.
"Adel and many of the players here understand that the club is
looking to go in a forward direction and they want to be a part of it."