Adel Taarabt has revealed returning to QPR after experiencing Champions League football with AC Milan "really hurt" the 28-year-old midfielder.

Taarabt spent half of the 2014 season on loan at the Italian giants and made his Champions League debut in February, during AC Milan's 1-0 defeat at the San Siro to Atletico Madrid in their last 16 tie while scoring eight minutes into his league debut against Napoli.

However, he returned to QPR that summer and struggled at the club, with then manager Harry Redknapp claiming he wasn't fit enough to play football - Taarabt then left for Benfica in 2015 and now plays for Genoa on loan.

And Taarabt has revealed that after playing with players like Kaka returning to west London and Rangers really hurt the Moroccan international.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I had done well with the Rossoneri and we were on the verge of signing the contract, then Pippo Inzaghi arrived and made other choices. Returning to QPR after playing in the Champions League alongside stars like Kaka really hurt.

Adel Taarabt (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“At the start of my career, I would rely solely on talent. I didn’t believe in hard work or playing for the team. I wanted to win my way. Now I have realised that football is a collective sport, that to be a complete player, you must be willing to sacrifice yourself.

“Putting on weight has always been an issue for me. When I was young and single, I could go out with my friends to restaurants. You can’t do that at 28, you need to change your lifestyle, and that’s what I did.

“I rediscovered my love for football and for myself. I am crazy about this sport and watch every game I can. My idol is Zinedine Zidane and now I play closer to the goal, in the role he had.

“I thought I could never get back to my best, but with this new physical form, I can start winning again and playing well with Genoa. It’d be wonderful to get my own chant from the Genoa fans.”