‘I was young and stupid’ – Midfielder admits he regrets Tottenham exit

Former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has admitted that he made a mistake by forcing a move away from the North London club.

After impressing for Tottenham’s Under-21s, Bentaleb was handed his first-team debut by Tim Sherwood in 2013 in his first match in charge, coming on as a substitute for Mousa Dembele in a clash at St Mary’s.

It was during Mauricio Pochettino’s first season at Spurs that the midfielder really blossomed, forming a dynamic partnership in the middle of the park alongside another academy graduate, who has now turned coach, Ryan Masson.

The Algerian found himself falling down the pecking order in the 2015-16 season and ended up leaving Spurs the subsequent summer to join Schalke on an initial loan deal, which become permanent in 2017.

The 28-year-old failed to live up to his potential at the Bundesliga club and also had some disciplinary issues during his time at Gelsenkirchen.

Bentaleb, who is now at Ligue 1 side Angers, has admitted that he made a mistake by leaving Tottenham when he did.

He told La Gazette du Fennec: “No, it was me. It was me.

“Like I’ve already said, I was young, and stupid. I rushed, I did everything to force an exit when they were really counting on me at Tottenham, but when I had an idea in mind, I wanted to see it through.

“That made me leave. It did help me to leave, but, if you ask me now, looking back, I would have stayed.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Bentaleb’s talent was never in any doubt and I believe he could have developed into a top midfielder under the tutelage of Pochettino and his coaching staff had he stayed at Spurs for a couple of seasons longer. 

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