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QPR star Taarabt keen to represent Morocco at African Cup of Nations
Dec 19, 2012 10:20:00 AM
Despite his manager Harry Redknapp asking the 23-year-old to skip the tournament and aid the struggling Premier League side, the attacker "can't refuse" a recall to the squad
QPR attacker Adel Taarabt has revealed his desire to represent Morocco during the upcoming African Cup of Nations.The 23-year-old admitted last week that he was struggling with the decision after being asked by Rs boss Harry Redknapp to skip the tournament to stay and aid the struggling side's battle against relegation.
However, following his two-goal match-winning display against Fulham at the weekend, Taarabt has outlined his determination to win a recall to the Morocco squad after learning that new Atlas Lions coach Rachid Taoussi wants to select him.
"I will do everything I can to prove to him that I deserve to be there," Taarabt told www.lequipe.fr.
"[Redknapp] came to see me to ask me not to go but I told him, 'If they call me, I can't refuse, boss. I love my country, I love the Moroccan people and football means a lot to them'.
"I warned him that the only solution was that the coach doesn't call me up.
"The coach isn't obliged to take me. I hope to be at the African Nations Cup but even if I'm not there, and that would be painful, I will be the biggest Morocco supporter."
Since Redknapp's appointment as manager, the Rs are unbeaten in four games and claimed their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday to take them off the foot of the table.
Taarabt was sold by his new manager to QPR while at Tottenham, but he revealed his enjoyment at working under Redknapp at Loftus Road and is in no hurry to leave the club in light of recent speculation linking him elsewhere.
"He is a peerless motivator," he continued. "You believe you are the best player in the world when he talks to you.
"Before matches he is very strong. When you go on the pitch you fear nothing. At the end of the match against Fulham, he came to me to say, 'I told you that you were as good as Berbatov'.
"I see all the clubs linked with my name but I've just signed for four years at QPR. The chairman has said that he wouldn't see me. I don't know what would happen if someone offered 20 million. But I love the club and the fans. And they love me too."
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