Gazzetta dello Sport have been speaking to Adel Taarabt, who in recent interviews has been keen to let the world know that it’s finally clicked: The former QPR favourite is now aware that footballers have to work hard.

Yep, it took a long time, and Taarabt really should have learned the very basic lesson a lot sooner, but the 28 year old talks like he’s found out a secret.

The Italian newspaper start their article with an old Taarabt chant sang by the Loftus Road faithful: “Taarabt’s too good for you.”

And variants thereof.

Embed from Getty Images

Gazzetta say it’s a reminder, if perhaps a little depressing, of how much of an idol Taarabt once was at QPR, and that kind of hero worship probably didn’t help.

Of course, QPR fans can hardly be blamed for making Taarabt believe his talent would win out over everything, but making him an idol was confirmation for a footballer seemingly looking for any excuse not to pull his finger out.

Now on loan at Genoa from Benfica, Taarabt told Gazzetta: “At the beginning of my career I was just concentrating on talent. I didn’t believe in running, playing for the team. I wanted to win my way. Here I understand that football is a collective sport, that to be a full player you have to suffer. I’m back, I’m not the old one yet, but I’m coming.

“I was single, I liked going out with friends, going to the restaurant. But when you’re 23 you can do it, at 28 no, you have to change your lifestyle. And I did. So I found myself and the love for football. I’m crazy about this sport, I watch all the games, I know all the players.”

Well done Adel, well done.

It wasn’t only a failure to actually try hard which held Taarabt back, returning to QPR from AC Milan was a mental blow he struggled to recover from: “When you have played in Milan, having to play in a less prestigious club is a mental issue.

“That experience struck me mentally. for the Rossonero I did well, I wanted to stay, we were on the point of signing. Then came Inzaghi who made other choices. Returning to the QPR, after playing in the Champions League, with champions like Kaka, it hurt me.”

At least we can all be assured that the penny has finally dropped for Taarabt, until the next time.