Tottenham Loanee Nabil Bentaleb Up for Award
By Ryan Wrenn
Though his future with Tottenham remains uncertain, fans might take some pride in the fact that Nabil Bentaleb is up for the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award.
The Tottenham Academy product came into Schalke as a starter when his loan went through last summer. He’s since made 16 starts in the Bundesliga, scoring four goals and setting up two assists.
As encouraging as it’s been, Bentaleb’s loan only happened after it became clear that Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t going to offer any opportunities for him at Tottenham.
Even for a player as young as Bentaleb, this came as something of a shock. In Pochettino’s first season with Spurs, Bentaleb was a regular fixture in midfield. It seemed as if the youngster was part of the club’s long-term plans.
There were failings throughout that first season as a regular starter however. The defense looked horrendously exposed when Bentaleb was meant to cover for them.
Add to that, Spurs suffered the most mistakes that led to a goal of any team in the Premier League that season. Changes absolutely needed to be made in defense, and Bentaleb himself was not immune from the subsequent cull.
More from Tottenham News
- Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
- Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
- Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
- Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
- Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help
Unlike older players like Younes Kaboul or players lacking Premier League experience like Benjamin Stambouli, Bentaleb still retains some meaningful value. The failings were there, but for a young player to have 66 appearances with a team like Tottenham is no mean feat.
The idea surrounding the loan to Schalke wasn’t just to get Bentaleb minutes. Ideally Tottenham will build on performances like the ones he’s turned in to make the deal permanent, hopefully for a decent chunk of transfer fee.
Even Pochettino might be vulnerable to a change of heart however. Tottenham still retain the rights to Bentaleb, and his return from Schalke would be much cheaper than buying another midfielder with similar experience.
How ideal this would be for Bentaleb isn’t clear. While he’s proving his worth in Germany this season, he wouldn’t come back to Tottenham with clear starting prospects. Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembélé will keep Spurs’ midfield as their own for the foreseeable future, and Harry Winks is increasingly looking like the heir apparent should only of them falter.
Next: Tottenham Midfield Duo Earns High Praise
In the end, what’s best for the player — and the prospect of a reasonably sized pay out — will likely overrule whatever benefit Spurs might find from retaining Bentaleb’s services. For fans of the club though it remains encouraging to see any Academy product succeed, even if it’s not with Tottenham.