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Player Watch: Nabil Bentaleb

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
7,960
29,659
I have been a very harsh critic of Bentaleb in the past. I thought he gave the ball away cheaply far too often and was stuck in between positions. I am at fault for putting so much pressure on the kid at such an early age cause the physical ability has always been there. I just seemed to never like his attitude as it always felt he didn't want to be a part of it.

But after watching him this year at Schalke, I have to say I am very proud of the kid. Dude is changing my opinion of him with every game he plays further up the pitch. The more and more I see him in that german side, I say "he is direct competition for Eriksen and Dele."

Now that is a complete 180 after what I was saying in the offseason, so well done kid, well done!!!

Is there a chance to pull him back off loan? We could really use some competition in our anemic midfield

Super unlikely, I would welcome him back but Poch has probably written him off. Just know the 18mill we get from Schalke will go into offsetting the 30 mill we spent on Sissoko :cry::cry:
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
Point is, if we did want to keep him, and thats a big if, offering him a better contract (and renewed first team opps) to rival what Schalke may offer could be a way of keeping him.


Are Schalke matching what he got from us in his new contract? As far as I know we could be paying some of his wages still.
 

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,652
26,046
Evidently Sport Bild is reporting that Bentaleb may refuse to sign with Shalke in the summer due to the way their supporters treated him when he first arrived. That would put him back at Spurs until we figured out what to do with him.

I personally still rate him and would love him back in the fold, but that seems extremely unlikely unless something has transpired to convince Poch to give him another chance. Either way we would probably benefit as we'd likely be able to sell him on the open market for more than the €19m option to buy that Shalke have.
 
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