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Adel Taarabt could be sold by Benfica in January - just four months after joining the Portuguese champions on a free transfer.

The 26-year-old Moroccan playmaker signed a five-year deal in June after having his contract with Queens Park Rangers terminated following their relegation from the Premier League.

His future in Lisbon is now in doubt, however, after he allegedly broke a club curfew ahead of last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira.

Taarabt is understood to have been seen “sampling the nightlife” in the early hours, even though his Benfica’s players are meant to be home by 11pm the night before a match.

The club are now examining all options — including putting the player up for sale when the transfer window reopens in January.

(Image: Reuters)

The controversy comes months after we revealed Taarabt was one of the so-called ‘bad eggs’ at QPR last season, with the west Londoners unhappy with his attitude in training.

Taarabt hit the headlines in Portugal last month when he was told by his new club’s coaching staff that he “needed to lose 1.5kg” and that he would not get a game unless he did so.

Taarabt has yet to play in a competitive match for Benfica and coach Rui Vitoria revealed he is still not convinced by the ex-Tottenham and Fulham midfielder’s application in training.

He said: “My selection criterion is the quality of the player, whether young or old, Portuguese or foreign. When there is a change of country, some adapt more quickly than others, it is a normal process. When we hear that they are ready to join the team, they will come “

It is not the first time that Taarabt has had his weight questioned.

His then-QPR boss Harry Redknapp was involved in a furious public spat with the playmaker in October last year.

Redknapp said of a player he also managed at Spurs: “He’s not injured. He’s not fit. He’s not fit to play football unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did.

‘I pick people who want to try, who come in every day and work, train and show a good attitude.

“When he starts doing that, if he ever can, maybe he’ll get a game. I can’t protect people who don’t want to run and train, and are about three stone overweight.’

But Taarabt rejected the claim, hitting back: “I am a professional - this is not about retaliation, this is about protecting my reputation,’ said Taarabt.

“I played in that reserve game for 90 minutes and if he didn’t think I was running he could have taken me off. Maybe I didn’t perform like I could because it was a reserve team game and I was protecting myself.”