against Burton Albion on 27 August, only came on as a substitute in the away match against West Ham. Responding to a journalist's question, QPR manager Harry Redknapp stated after his team's home defeat against Liverpool, "Taarabt is not injured. He's not fit. He's not fit to play football unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can't pick him." Taarabt responded that Redknapp was "making excuses because QPR are losing games", adding, "[M]aybe he expects me to make more tackles. I am not this type of player." Benfica On 12 June 2015, Taarabt signed a five-year contract with Portuguese champions Benfica on €4 million transfer fee. On 10 January 2017, he joined Italian club Genoa on a loan deal until June 2018. After seven months with Benfica's reserve team, Taarabt returned to the first-team in February 2019, making his debut on 30 March 2019 as a 71st-minute substitute in a 1–0 home win over Tondela in Primeira Liga. During the 2019–20 season, Taarabt established himself as a regular starter for Benfica in an unfamiliar defensive midfield position. On 1 September 2022, Benfica announced the termination of his contract. Al-Nasr SC On 25 September 2022, Taarabt joined Emirati club Al-Nasr SC. International career Taarabt represented France at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, but opted to play for Morocco at senior level, saying, "I felt the time was right when I was given this opportunity". On 11 February 2009, he played his first international match with Morocco in a friendly against Czech Republic in Casablanca. He also made an appearance on 29 March during Morocco's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier 2–1 defeat against Gabon. Taarabt scored his first international goal on his first start on 31 March 2009 in a friendly 2–0 victory over Angola. On 6 September 2009, he scored his first goal in a competitive international match against Togo in the 2010 World Cup qualification after he broke through the opposing defence in stoppage time. On 3 June 2011, Taarabt decided to end his international career the day after being dropped to the bench for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria. He reneged on that decision, returning on 9 October 2011 for their last qualifier against Tanzania. Taarabt scored a free-kick that would end up being the winning goal and sealing Morocco's qualification. He