Redknapp: Taarabt Is a Genius That Could Play for Anybody

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has labelled Adel Taarabt a genius after the creative midfielder scored twice to hand the west London club their first win of the season.

Redknapp had the mercurial talent at Tottenham but could not be convinced to keep hold of him by chairman Daniel Levy as they finally accepted an offer from QPR.

While showing glimpses of his talent at White Hart Lane, Taarabt has settled at QPR and was instrumental in firing them into the Premier League. He initially struggled last season to continue his good form but has been one of the shining lights in a disappointing campaign this year.

The Moroccan scored two excellent long-range goals against Fulham as he was handed a free role playing just behind the lone striker Djibril Cisse.

Redknapp was so impressed with the display that he compared him to West Ham legend Paulo di Canio who also produced many memorable moments of absolute genius.

"He's my type of player, I love people with that ability," said Redknapp, as quoted in the Ham and High. "He's a genius, he could play for anybody.

"He can be a top, top player. He's got ability like not many people you will ever see in your life. He's like [Paolo] Di Canio, who I thought was a fantastic player, one of the all-time great players at West Ham.

"This boy's the same. He can do things that no one else can do. No one can do what he can does, he's amazing. He nutmegs people and he goes past two or three who are hanging off him and can't get the ball off him."

Much like Di Canio, Taarabt has sometimes got in trouble for his fiery temperament but Redknapp believes this is part and parcel of what makes him such a competitor and a genuine match winner.

"A lot of talented people like that are difficult to handle," added Redknapp. "Paolo was like that, he was difficult to handle but he was a genius, he could win games on a Saturday, and that's what this boy can do."