Taarabt launches astonishing attack on Liverpool’s Balotelli
The pair were together at the San Siro during Taarabt’s six-month loan spell with Milan from January 2014 and the Moroccan has spoken out in scathing terms when asked about his former team-mate.
“Everybody told me that he was very good, I’ve played with him and can say he is good, but he doesn’t seem a world-class player to me,” Taarabt told Sky Sport Italia.
“And I say this as a friend, because there is a friendship between us.
“He’s had opportunities with many teams from City to Milan, so cannot say it’s a problem of his environment or one particular team.
“He must work hard to become a great striker.”
Taarabt also commented that he’d be willing to take a pay cut in order to return to the Rossoneri, having been frozen out of the first-team picture at Queens Park Rangers by boss Harry Redknapp.