On Saturday, Hull City entertained Newcastle United at the KC stadium, where Newcastle easily took the three points. Throughout the pre-match hype and during the course of the game, there was no mention of one particular person. That person was Hatem Ben Arfa. “Who?” I hear you ask with a bewildered expression. Hatem Ben Arfa. Is it still not sounding familiar? Really still have no clue?
He is the man once described as “a genius” by Gérard Houllier. A prodigy of the Clairefontaine academy who could create a moment of magic that even the Chosen One (that’s Harry Potter for all you muggles) would be envy of. An eccentric playmaker once turning the heads of the European elite of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“Oh yes! That guy!”
Ben Arfa was captured by Newcastle in the summer of 2010 from Marseille, at first on a temporary basis but later the deal was made permanent after four promising performances; that was before breaking his leg. Back fit for the Toons, Ben Arfa was instrumental in guiding his team to fifth in the league, cementing a starting spot and showing off all his magical tricks he had learned from Hogwarts as he did so.
However, the next season, Ben Arfa fell down the Newcastle pecking order faster than an overweight man tumbling down the stairs after he dropped his slice of double-chocolate fudge cake. This was largely due to numerous tantrums with the manager about his hopeless desire to help his team defend as well as claims from the fans that over pre-season he gained a few pounds… And it would have been a couple more if he hadn’t have dropped that double-chocolate fudge cake.
Nevertheless, there were multiple cries that it was the entirely the manager, Alan Pardew’s fault that he could not extract the talent circulating through the veins of Ben Arfa. So roll on summer 2014 and now surplus to requirements at Newcastle, Ben Arfa was ferried off to Humberside to join Hull City on loan, where Steve Bruce believed he could revive the player’s career.
Unfortunately, like many before him, Bruce was unable to have any influence on the player. This was evident when he hauled the Frenchman off after 35 woeful minutes at Old Trafford, subsequently an alleged argument between the two men followed at half-time adding to the extensive list of fallouts, Ben Arfa has had during his pitiful career. Bruce finally lost his patience with a player who refused to listen to advice and follow team instructions, although it was probably only because he was ruminating over the cake that tragically never touched his lips.
Whatever the reason, Bruce terminated the loan move with the player and Ben Arfa scurried back off back to France.
Not all hope is lost however! Luckily, struggling Ligue 1 outfit, Nice, have decided to take a punt on the player and offer him one last chance to revive his career. Oh, how ‘Nice’ of them. Get it? I’ll just briefly pause whilst you roar with laughter. Done? Anyways, as ‘Nice’ (last time, I promise) as it seems for Ben Arfa. The slight snag, Nice has stumbled across is that the French League have refused international clearance to play for the Ligue 1 side.
Once again, his forecasted glittering career has abruptly come to a halt. At least he now has time to try that double-chocolate fudge cake.
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