What Neil Warnock said when QPR first signed Adel Taarabt - He was not wrong | OneFootball

Football League World looks at Neil Warnock's first words after signing Adel Taarabt for QPR in a historic coup

QPR's decision to sign mercurial Moroccan maverick Adel Taarabt proved to be an absolute masterstroke.

Taarabt's X-Factor flair, swagger, quality and bravery on the ball was second-to-none during his time in the Championship and, well more than a decade on, he remains fondly remembered as one of the most naturally gifted, and iconic, players to ever turn out in English football's second-tier.

The ex-QPR playmaker is the chief feature of the 'streets won't forget' genre, and his impact was indeed memorable.

When you think of Taarabt, meanwhile, you often think of Neil Warnock too. The Yorkshireman was in charge of QPR as they won the Championship in 2011, where Taarbabt enjoyed his best ever campaign.

He was able handle the controversial midfielder, with his patient and forgiving approach essential to giving Taarabt license to thrive - even if the rules would often be bent to do so.

But what did Warnock say when he first signed Taarabt for the R's? Football League World takes a closer look...

What Neil Warnock said about Adel Taarabt after signing him for QPR

Warnock was rightly delighted to bring Taarabt to Loftus Road on a permanent basis in the summer of 2010, after the gifted attacking midfielder had enjoyed two loan spells with the club from Tottenham Hotspur.

Taarabt's move set QPR back a reported £1 million, while he also agreed to a weekly contract worth £20,000.

After completing the signing, Warnock is quoted as saying: "Tarbs is the sort of exciting player QPR should have.

"He can do things others can't, and after a lot of hard work from the club, he's now one of ours."

Adel Taarabt's QPR career following Neil Warnock signing admission

QPR and Warnock already knew what Taarabt was all about. Taarabt first joined QPR on a season-long loan deal for the 2008/09 campaign, which was extended to the following campaign after his appearances were limited by injury.

That term, he posted seven goals and 11 assists at the tender age of 19 - a mightily-impressive and often-underrated return - but the best was very much yet to come from Taarabt, who stole the show as QPR won the title in the 2010/11 season.

He was on another level that year. Frequently unplayable, Taarabt tormented Championship defences at will and showcased a remarkable ability to score from just about anywhere.

Warnock was indeed right when he said Taarabt was capable of doing things others could not. His exploits often left supporters and teammates alike scratching their heads in sheer bewilderment.

But, frustratingly, that was just about as good as it ever got for a player who had the world at his feet at the time.

Taarabt possessed all the natural gifts to become a genuine superstar and there is a school of thought that he failed to truly and consistently live up to his lofty potential, with numerous controversies souring the second-half of his career in West London.

He never kicked on after Warnock left the club and, barring moments of individual brilliance, did not quite have the desired impact in the top-flight. His second Premier League season in 2012/13, where QPR finished rock bottom, was fairly-impressive on a personal note as he scored five goals and made four assists to earn loan moves to both Fulham and AC Milan as the R's gained promotion back from the Championship through the play-offs at the first time of asking.