Sports
Harry Redknapp Named Adel Taarabt as ‘Worst Professional Ever’
Harry Redknapp once named a ‘streets won’t forget’ Premier League star as the ‘worst professional’ he ever encountered during his 34-year managerial career. The former Bournemouth, West Ham and Tottenham boss saw it all during his decades in the dugout, and remains one of the English game’s most experienced voices.
The 79-year-old’s latest appearance on British TV screens came with his second stint on ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’, the show he won as ‘King of the Jungle’ back in 2018. This time around, in the South African bush, he once again made it to the latter stages, but missed out on achieving the show’s ‘legend’ status after losing to Adam Thomas in the final.
Before that, Redknapp had been linked with a shock return to Tottenham amid the fallout from Igor Tudor’s early dismissal. But having not managed since his short-lived spell at Birmingham City in 2017, it seems increasingly unlikely he will return to the dugout – even if his conversations still so often drift back to his years in some of football’s most stressful jobs.
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Redknapp Named Former Tottenham Man as ‘Worst Professional Ever’
Having managed him at both QPR and Tottenham, Redknapp often found himself in a war of words with the highly skilful Adel Taarabt, and it was in 2014 that he lifted the lid on the sheer weight of his player’s unprofessionalism at Loftus Road. He criticised the winger, saying his weight loss at the time was only due to a bout of tonsillitis, and added he could not “protect people who are about three stone overweight” following a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.
Taarabt – who had played just 30 minutes of Premier League football that season – rejected the claims and suggested Redknapp had no “gameplan”, while the manager maintained his stance over the Morocco international. As per ESPN, he blasted:
“The only reason he has lost weight is because he has had tonsillitis,” he said. “That’s the only way we could get any weight off of him. He is not fit to play a game, that’s the truth. He is the worst professional I have ever come across and I have been his only ally at QPR for the past three years. He doesn’t try and I have protected him for too long.”
He continued: “When we were last in the Premier League we played Manchester United at home on a Saturday lunchtime. I had a phone call telling me Adel had been in a casino until 5am that morning. I pulled him into my office and asked whether it was true. He told me that he hadn’t been in a casino until 5 a.m. on Friday morning but that he might have been there on Thursday morning.
“After we had been relegated last year we went to Exeter to prepare for a season in the Championship. I had to leave to go and have an operation on my knee. Steve McClaren was working with me at the time. As soon as I left he sent Adel home because he wasn’t up to it. The fitness coaches at QPR, everybody tells me he doesn’t try.
“He doesn’t want to run around. I have tried to protect him until now but the fans have to know what’s going on. Even I could suck my stomach in for a picture and look OK.”
Adel Taarabt’s Life after Premier League Exit
Footballers like Taarabt – who, for good reason, is one of the most frustrating players in Premier League history – are a dying breed. They don’t follow patterns of rules and that’s evidenced by his career path following a short stint with Spurs. He joined QPR in the summer of 2010 after back-to-back loan stints.
Loftus Road was often flat – but Taarabt ensured to keep spirits high with glimpses of brilliance, chipping in with an impressive return of 34 goals and 41 assists. His subsequent 16-game loan spell at Fulham may be less memorable, but he still caught the eye of AC Milan, who signed the Fez-born star on loan in January 2014.
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Spells at Benfica, Genoa, Al-Nasr followed and now, at the age of 36, he’s still playing for Sharjah FC in the UAE Pro League. A player able to enchant and frustrate in equal measure, he scored nine goals and six assists in 41 outings last term. Many witnessed what the real Adel Taarabt was about; but it’s a career shrouded in regret as he nearly ended up signing for Arsenal.
Sports
Man Utd Make Fresh Contact For Alex Scott
Manchester United have made fresh enquiries over a move for Alex Scott this summer, according to TeamTalk, as the Old Trafford outfit continue their pursuit of a new midfielder.
There is an expectation that the Red Devils could sign up to three central options in the transfer window, with a deal for Ederson already agreed as the first arrival.
One of the other two expected signings is set to be the marquee arrival, with money set aside to spend big on a star who will anchor the midfield for years to come.
Plenty of links have emerged, with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes the most prominent options, but a move for Scott appears to be on the cards for Man United.
Alex Scott To Man United Transfer Latest
Alex Scott has emerged as a transfer target for Man United, as the England international appears to be gaining plenty of interest from top sides in the Premier League.
After an impressive season with Bournemouth, the Red Devils appear keen on a deal, as TeamTalk reports that the club have recently made fresh enquiries over a switch.
Scott has been valued at £80 million in some reports, as the team on the south coast face a battle to keep hold of their star player, who has been described as “amazing”, with the years on his contract dwindling.
However, despite the growing pressure to potentially sell the 22-year-old, the report from TeamTalk claims that Bournemouth are insisting that they won’t allow for an exit this summer.
New Cherries boss Marco Rose is believed to have told the hierarchy that he doesn’t want to lose the midfielder, and intends to go into next season with the star in his team.
It comes as the latest frustration for Man United in their ongoing pursuit of another midfielder, with challenges arising over a few of their other transfer options.
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Man United’s Midfield Struggles
Manchester United will be left frustrated with how their approach to the midfield options on the transfer market has gone so far this summer.
While a deal for Ederson has been wrapped up quickly, it seems as though ground has been lost to Tottenham in the race to sign both Tonali and Fernandes.
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Other options, such as Aurelien Tchouameni may prove costly and tough to get over the line, while Scott is the latest player to be seemingly ruled out for a move as it stands.
The Red Devils may need to dig deeper into their scouting pool to find their next top option, with others seemingly being ruled out one by one.
Sports
Predicted Starting XIs for World Cup Group I Match
One of the most exciting games at this year’s FIFA World Cup thus far takes place on Friday when France meets Norway in the final matchday of Group I. The European nations collide at Gillette Stadium, battling to top their group.
Erling Haaland and the Vikings have lived up to their billing as dark horses with a 4-1 win over Iraq and a 3-2 victory against Senegal. Kylian Mbappe and Les Bleus have looked the real deal, beating Senegal 3-1 and Iraq 3-0.
It means the Norwegians will be eyeing victory over the French to steal first place in their group. Both countries are already through to the Round of 32.
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Match: |
Information: |
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Date |
Friday, June 26, 2026 |
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Kick-off Time |
15:00 EDT Local Time (20:00 BST) |
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Venue |
Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough |
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Competition |
FIFA World Cup 2026, Group I (Matchday 3) |
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Referee |
Michael Oliver (English) |
Norway
Stale Solbakken’s men sealed their place in the knockout rounds with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Senegal. Manchester City striker Haaland was at the double as his side made it six points from their two opening games.
Norway can really put the cat amongst the pigeons with a win over favourites France and finish at the top of Group I. That will be a tough ask, though, as they haven’t beaten the two-time world champions since August 2010.
Team News
Solbakken is likely to be without Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson, who picked up a thigh injury in the win over Senegal. That will be one change that has to be made, and it will force their manager to rotate for the first time at this World Cup.
Torbjorn Heggem’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the game after coming off late on against Senegal. That might mean Solbakken tinkers with his defence, but Haaland will undoubtedly continue to lead the line, having bagged four goals in two games.
Predicted Starting 11
There should be two changes to Norway’s backline, with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who scored against Senegal, replacing Ryerson. Leo Ostigard could come in for Heggem as he did at the end of their win over the Senegalese.
Haaland should be joined by Antonio Nusa in attack, as well as Fulham’s Oscar Bobb, to give Alexander Sorloth a rest. Solbakken will want to field a team that can spring a surprise and beat France.
Expected XI: Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Ostigard, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Bobb, Haaland, Nusa
France
Of the bookies’ favourites to win the tournament, France are looking the strongest side. A slightly underwhelming first-half performance against Senegal aside, they have been superb, and Mbappe is in red-hot form.
Mbappe, like Haaland, has found the net four times in two games, and he’s not the only French attacker shining. Les Bleus are currently top of Group I, ahead of Norway with a superior goal difference of just one.
Team News
Deschamps will miss the game against Norway after the death of his mother, leaving his assistant Guy Stephan to lead the team. He will have to decide which of Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking pair, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, should start.
Manchester United-linked Aurelien Tchouameni lost his place in midfield to Manu Kone in the victory over Iraq. He might have a fight on his hands to reclaim it, as well as Theo Hernandez, whom Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne displaced at left-back.
Predicted Starting 11
William Saliba returned and played the full 90 minutes in the win against Iraq, and he should keep his place against Norway. Digne fared well in that game and could get the nod over Hernandez again.
Kone’s performance earned praise, and he may have done enough to continue in midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot. In attack, Barcola has outperformed Doue thus far and should get a chance to prove he deserves to be a starter.
Expected XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Rabiot, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
Sports
Tottenham Suffer Transfer Blow As Midfielder Rejects Move
Tottenham have been incredibly active in the transfer market so far this summer but they do appear to have missed out on a target.
Following a serious relegation scare where they avoided dropping down to the Championship on the final day of the 2025/26 season, Roberto De Zerbi’s team have sprung into action in the transfer market as they attempt to get back to competing towards the top of the Premier League once again.
Firstly securing the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively, last week Tottenham signed centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £52million deal and experienced Premier League goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has since followed.
Tottenham aren’t done just there, though, with midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes linked with big-money transfers to N17.
However, one midfielder who doesn’t appear to be making the move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the new campaign is Aleksandar Stankovic.
Stankovic says no to Tottenham transfer
Stankovic looks set to stay at Inter Milan for the new season after starring for Club Brugge last term, contributing nine goals and five assists in 55 appearances.
The defensive midfielder, who is the son of former Inter ace Dejan Stankovic, departed the San Siro for Club Brugge on a permanent basis last July but the Nerazzurri maintained a buy-back clause in their agreement with the Belgian side.
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At the beginning of June, Inter activated the clause and re-signed the ‘exceptional’ 20-year-old in a deal worth €23million (£19.85m).
According to Sky Sport Italy, the midfielder had two transfer proposals from Premier League clubs, one of which came from Tottenham.
However, Stankovic reportedly turned down Spurs and did likewise to Brentford in favour of returning to Inter Milan.
What next in Tottenham’s midfield?
It looks set to be all change in midfield next season as De Zerbi really stamps his mark on his Tottenham team.
Adding to that area in the winter transfer market with the north London club bringing in Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid prior to the Italian taking on the hotseat, the 26-year-old could well be joined by Tonali and Fernandes if Tottenham get their way on the transfer front.
One current player who will be looking for a big season under De Zerbi is Rodrigo Bentancur after returning from injury and playing an instrumental role in midfield to help Tottenham drag themselves out of relegation danger after such a bleak run of form.
Bentancur’s teammate Lucas Bergvall looks set to move on after only two years with the club, though, after asking to leave in his quest for more first-team football.
Yves Bissouma’s Tottenham departure has already been confirmed with the Mali international set to exit at the conclusion of his contract later this month, with Joao Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich also coming to an end after his temporary switch from the Bundesliga champions.
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