Neil Warnock said today Adel Taarabt can carry on being a law unto himself. The Queens Park Rangers manager gave his backing despite the forward's walk out after being substituted during the 6-0 thrashing by Fulham 11 days ago.
After storming out of Craven Cottage, Taarabt, still dressed in a QPR tracksuit, caught the bus home to the astonishment of fans waiting at the bus stop.
Warnock plans to speak with Taarabt today on his return from international duty in Marrakech, where he scored in a 3-1 win over Tanzania to help Morocco reach the finals of the African Cup of Nations.
Ahead of that meeting the manager said: "I just think the lads here know what Adel is. I don't think anybody else can be like that. Adel is Adel and we'll accept what he is. Sometimes you don't realise what you've got until you lose it and you should be careful what you wish for."
Taarabt has been quoted as saying that he would have to leave in January because of finance but Warnock is not reading too much into those comments.
The manager said: "It will be very interesting to see where he is in five years. I have my own ideas. But he doesn't affect our spirit - it would do if it was only a Joe Bloggs. But all the group that have built up in the last 18 months accept him for what he is.
"I take that quote about him wanting to leave with a pinch of salt. It's only six weeks since Adel said he'd never play for his country again. Now he's scored a goal for Morocco and kisses the coach! That's Adel - you take everything with a pinch of salt."
Taarabt was key in QPR's Championship-winning campaign last season but there were reports over the summer of a link with Paris St-Germain, who are now bankrolled by the Qatar Investment Authority.
"If he wants to leave, he can leave. I've never had a problem with that, concerning players," added Warnock, whose side host Blackburn in the Premier League on Saturday.
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"But all the talk of offers we've had, I never saw a serious one from PSG in France and with what we would have had to pay Tottenham, we'd have been left with peanuts."
