Nabil Bentaleb

[Don Diaz]

Our 21 year old loanee, remember him - still only 21, is on fine form at Schalke 04 at present having scored 5 goals in the last 6 matches during the clubs unbeaten 9 match run.

Bentaleb has been playing a more advanced midfield role apparently. In addition there is a clause in his deal that Schalke can buy him for €19m allegedly.

Wonder what happened between him and Poch after signing his new contract, it all went tits up. Bit of a shame really, might see him back one day, which would be good, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[boo]

Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb says that he is completely at ease with his new role in Germany on loan at Schalke 04.

The Algerian international has scored five goals in his last five games for the Bundesliga side after being frozen out at White Hart Lane over the summer by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

He still has a contract at Spurs that runs until 2020 and has explained his situation at the north London club is “quite complex”.

Speaking to local newspaper Le Buteur, he said: “I can’t say I left Tottenham in difficult conditions because when you don’t play in a club, it’s quite complex. At the same time, I know that it’s part of the life of a footballer.

“I don’t hold a grudge with anyone. The manager had a good season, and you can’t criticise him. Down my end, I got injured, and when I came back, it was hard to impose myself.”

Schalke reportedly have the option to purchase Bentaleb for €19m if he impresses enough during his loan spell.

 

[skiathospurs]

Show me the money........

 

[deejbah]

Having watched pretty much every game he's played, he (along with the rest of the team) has certainly progressed after a rocky start, which is to his credit. I think he definitely looks better when he is not expected to have a majority defensive responsibility and is able to make good late runs into the box or have some shots from distance. For the most part he has either been part of a midfield three during this good run, with someone else being the more defensive-oriented player.

 

[boo]

Nabil Bentaleb has insisted he respects Tottenham Hotspur and their supporters but says he had to join Schalke on loan to play more football.

Bentaleb, 21, joined Schalke on a season-long loan in August and reports in Germany have suggested the German club have already agreed in principle to sign him permanently for €19 million next summer.

Last month, Bentaleb appeared to criticise Tottenham fans, telling Bild : "If you lose there, nobody supports you in the stadium."

But in a new interview with The Set Pieces, Bentaleb said: "I have so much respect for the Tottenham supporters. And I have so much respect for the club that gave me the chance when I came for the first time to England."

The Algeria international was a regular in manager Mauricio Pochettino's first season at Spurs but he fell out of favour last term after signing a five-year contract, making just two league starts amid injuries and rumours of attitude problems.

"I was injured quite a long time and when I came back, the team was only winning," he said. "I was not part of the plan and I thought at that time -- and still now, at my age -- I need to play to improve.

"I made it clear to the coaches and the coaches said: 'No problem. We can sort this situation out.' I left on good terms with the chairman and the coach."

Bentaleb had a slow start at Schalke, who lost their first five matches of the season in the club's worst-ever Bundesliga start.

Since then, the midfielder has been superb, and he is the club's top scorer with five goals. He credits coach Markus Weinzierl for his turnaround.

"I made some stupid mistakes," the midfielder said of his first few games. "He [Weinzierl] put me back on the line and I think I showed that he could trust me. Listen, I'm 21 years old and I'm willing to learn. I have a lot of things to improve and I hope I will improve even above my expectations.

"I'm not married, my family's in France. So I just stay the whole day at the training centre, doing some recovery, working on some stuff, watching videos.

"I'm just focusing 200 percent on what I love. It's football and I think it's a perfect city for this because everyone thinks football, drinks football, lives football."

 

[deejbah]

Had another good game, probably best player on the pitch against Hertha. His assist for Burgstaller was fantastic.

 

[Don Diaz]

Had another good game, probably best player on the pitch against Hertha. His assist for Burgstaller was fantastic.

A week or two back they were saying he was an arrogant shit and that his early promise had waned and he wasn't good enough.

Will the real Nabil Bentaleb stand up.

 

[deejbah]

A week or two back they were saying he was an arrogant shit and that his early promise had waned and he wasn't good enough.

Will the real Nabil Bentaleb stand up.

That stuff was from the start of the season - he's been one of the best players since the first half a dozen league games which were pretty crap by the whole team.

 

[Thfcire]

A week or two back they were saying he was an arrogant shit and that his early promise had waned and he wasn't good enough.

Will the real Nabil Bentaleb stand up.

This maybe the root of it he's done well there no doubt but Seens an attitude problem might be there,he was poch main man for a season something has happened we don't know about

 

[Don Diaz]

As far as I know he went off the rails a bit having secured his new contract (his brother is his agent I believe) and then didn't walk straight back into the team after his injury, so got a bit grumpy.

You sign to train Nabil, Poch will let you know if you're playing.....

 

[Liam]

I wonder if there is a chance of him coming back here if he's starting to show promise, and hopefully he's grown up a but too. We all know there's a good player in there but he can be hit and miss in part because of his attitude but I feel his age could have something to with that too. He could turn out to be an ideal replacement for Dembele in time to come as he's no spring chicken. I suppose were onto a winner here whatever happens as we can get either 19million euro or a good player back. There's a bit of me that thinks could we get many promising 21 year old centre mid's with a little prem experience for 19 million euro and I'm very doubtful that we could to be honest. I'll leave this one down to poch to call the shots on.

 

[Don Diaz]

Yes he's still young of course and maybe this little sabbatical will do him good. He might need to be a bit humble to be accepted back into the group. Hopefully whatever happens it is in the club's best interest.

 

[Liam]

Yes he's still young of course and maybe this little sabbatical will do him good. He might need to be a bit humble to be accepted back into the group. Hopefully whatever happens it is in the club's best interest.

Indeed he will have to be humble and he must realise by now that to play for a title challenging club you are not guaranteed a starting spot unless you're one of the top 10 players in the world. He's at a fork in the road I feel in regards to his career, he'll either get a chance here or at shalke who are a fantastic club too so he needs to get his head down and work hard to realise that potential wherever he is next season.

 

[skiathospurs]

According to a report from German newspaper Bild, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb is just one league appearance away from triggering a £16.1million move to Schalke.

The Algeria international is currently on loan with the Bundesliga side but the upcoming clash with Cologne could see a permanent move sanctioned if Bentaleb features.
That would signal his 20th league appearance since leaving White Hart Lane last summer, and given his relatively good form to date Schalke will surely be happy to complete a deal for a player who could yet grow into an excellent midfielder.

Still only 22, Bentaleb has scored five goals and provided five assists for the German club to date, and there remain some Tottenham fans that feel it would be a mistake to wave goodbye to the player despite some disappointing appearances in a Spurs shirt after an initially promising breakthrough.

That said, Tottenham have plenty of midfield options still at the club and they may be happier with the money, enabling them to reinvest it and hopefully sign a striker who can finally ease the pressure on Harry Kane.

 

[Liam]

According to a report from German newspaper Bild, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb is just one league appearance away from triggering a £16.1million move to Schalke.

The Algeria international is currently on loan with the Bundesliga side but the upcoming clash with Cologne could see a permanent move sanctioned if Bentaleb features.
That would signal his 20th league appearance since leaving White Hart Lane last summer, and given his relatively good form to date Schalke will surely be happy to complete a deal for a player who could yet grow into an excellent midfielder.

Still only 22, Bentaleb has scored five goals and provided five assists for the German club to date, and there remain some Tottenham fans that feel it would be a mistake to wave goodbye to the player despite some disappointing appearances in a Spurs shirt after an initially promising breakthrough.

That said, Tottenham have plenty of midfield options still at the club and they may be happier with the money, enabling them to reinvest it and hopefully sign a striker who can finally ease the pressure on Harry Kane.

Didn't realise a potential deal was based on performance's. Thought it was just a case of if they like him at the end of the the season they have the option at the agreed price, looks like he'll be off. It's good money for a youth team player that could be great or complete shite. I feel the way the season has gone so far we could do with a real game changer in the team, someone who is a class above the likes of Alli and Kane. Easier to say that than actually acquire a player like that but I personally feel we are a Hazard, Bale, Suarez, quality of player away from something big with this team. Anyway back to bentaleb, or the money we look like getting for him, hope we spend it wisely and on adding to the squad now.

 

[Don Diaz]

If we off load Bentaleb (22 years old) for £16.5m having bought Wanyama (25) for £11m, I'd say that's pretty good business. I hope Bentalleb is successful and he might be one that got away, but we're building for the here and now and Poch will know his temperament better than anyone. He had 2 full seasons and ultimately didn't cut it. I'm disappointed because I thought he had all the attributes, but there it is.

 

[Thfcire]

He's played very well for them in fairness and it's a club that seems to suit him so good luck to him,it's an area we're not short of players and if we know levy we will be getting paid for him until he retires when he moves anywhere

 

[Ted the Yid]

If we off load Bentaleb (22 years old) for £16.5m having bought Wanyama (25) for £11m, I'd say that's pretty good business. I hope Bentalleb is successful and he might be one that got away, but we're building for the here and now and Poch will know his temperament better than anyone. He had 2 full seasons and ultimately didn't cut it. I'm disappointed because I thought he had all the attributes, but there it is.

Or, a player who came through the academy that cost hardly anything and who gave us a decent year and £16.5m profit

Seems decent business to me.

 

[Finchbee]

Get £16m for a Bentaleb and give Harry Winks a new contract! Think we are the only winners in that

 

[deejbah]

Get £16m for a Bentaleb and give Harry Winks a new contract! Think we are the only winners in that

I think it could be a rare case where everyone wins.

 

[birdonaball]

I never expected him to return to be honest. He seems to have found his groove so good luck to the lad. If we get a decent payday at the end of it, happy days, it can go in the kitty for a new striker.