Adel Taarabt: Benfica president reveals ex-Tottenham and QPR flop will not play for club again

Former Tottenham and QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt will not play for Benfica again, according to the club's president.

The Moroccan returned to pre-season overweight and in August he gave an interview to France Football begging to leave the Portuguese club.

That has angered Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, who has now revealed that the 27-year-old will not play again for his team.

"Taarabt is my and Rui Costa's fault. But he's a good player," Vieira told Benfica's official website.

"I don't understand anything about football, but I have a man by my side who understands a lot, which is Rui Costa.

"We watched and re-watched his games. But there are things lacking. He arrived with six extra pounds, but now he's at the right weight.

"After the interview he gave, he certainly won't wear the Benfica shirt. But we'll have enough skill to loan him."