LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hatem-ben-arfa-felt-noose-11242566 Hatem Ben Arfa: I felt the 'noose tightening' in England but my recovery at Nice is a 'miracle' 10:40, 26 APR 2016 UPDATED 10:41, 26 APR 2016 BY CHRIS WAUGH Former Newcastle United forward Hatem Ben Arfa has given a revealing interview to L'Equipe about his time in England and recovery at Nice Former Newcastle United forward Hatem Ben Arfa has described his revival with Nice as a “miracle” after he felt the “noose tightening” on his career during his failed loan spell at Hull City. The French international, who has netted 17 goals in 31 Ligue 1 appearances for Nice this season, saw his loan spell with the Tigers ended after just six months, before United terminated his contract back in January 2015. Due to FIFA regulations, Ben Arfa was unable to play again until August, but he has led Nice to the brink of Champions League qualification this season and is expected to be named in the France squad for Euro 2016. It has been quite the turnaround for the 29-year-old, who claims he has rebuilt his career after falling into a “hole” during his final months in England. In a revealing interview with L’Equipe, Ben Arfa talks of his “nightmare” at Hull, the “miracle” of his recovery, why he is still maturing as a man, where he will play his football next season, and his dream of winning the Ballon d’Or: “Nightmare” at Hull and Ben Arfa’s “miracle” recovery: “In Hull I was in a hole,” Ben Arfa told L’Equipe. “I really hit bottom – I saw black. I was in a nightmare. “For me, it was over. Then I told myself that I could not accept that. “But it was very, very difficult to look up. “So yes, you can call it a miracle. “Because I fought; I really struggled.” Ben Arfa on Super Mario, and why he was “dead” at The KC Stadium: During his time at The KC Stadium during the 2014-15 campaign, ex-Lyon and Marseille forward Ben Arfa gave an interview in which he compared himself to Super Mario. Ben Arfa has revisited that analogy to explain he was “dead” at Hull, having used up all his virtual lives, just like Super Mario. He added: “I had no life, actually. I was dead (at Hull). “But a bonus was down from heaven and allowed me to continue my way... “But let’s say I knew at that moment that the noose was really tightening.” On maturing as man and fulfilling his potential: Between 2010 and 2014 Ben Arfa scored 14 goals in 86 appearances for Newcastle. His talent was undoubted, but his application and workrate was often questioned, while Alan Pardew struggled to get the best out of Ben Arfa and eventually banished the forward to the reserves. Yet the five-time Ligue 1 winner - who has been linked with a summer move to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund - still intends to realise his full potential. “I try to fulfil myself as a man; this requires my footballing craft,” he continued. “I have a potential, I want to make the most of it. “I would not be able to hide from that if I left to go to the Far East, it would be over. “I would have had it on my conscience. I would never have been quiet. “I would constantly tell myself: ‘You still had the talent, you could do better’. I would not have been able to accept it. “My career is sort of roller coaster with lots of lows, many trials and today the nice weather has arrived. “I hope it will continue. Anyway, I do not see how it could not continue. “I work a lot, I have my momentum and it will be very difficult to stop.” What’s more, Ben Arfa believes he is still maturing as a player and as an individual - and has compared himself to a child growing up. “Evolution does not happen overnight,” he said. “A child, he grows up gradually. It’s the same for me. “I’m still not fully mature but I evolve.” Where does Ben Arfa believe his future lies? In terms of his future, Ben Arfa has not ruled out staying at Nice next season, though he admits “everything is possible” with some huge clubs reportedly sniffing around his signature. “See me in Ligue 1 next season? Yes, that is possible. “Today, everything is possible, apart from going to China or a country like that. “Staying in Nice? It’s possible. “It’s not a political answer, especially as there is the Champions League at the end. “Join a big club this summer? It’s one of the possibilities too. “I have advisers around me to protect me from all that. I focus on club goals.” His “dream” of lifting the Ballon d’Or: Ben Arfa has talked before of one day winning the Ballon d’Or, and it is something he still believes he can achieve one day. He added: “I dreamed in Hull. I dreamed when I started football. I still dream today. “As long as I play football, I’ll dream.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 “I dreamed in Hull. I dreamed when I started football. I still dream today. “As long as I play football, I’ll dream.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 I like the political answer to whether he'll stay at Nice, followed by "but fuck China" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Seeing him next weekend, oh yeah. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliottman Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Seeing him next weekend, oh yeah. Missed training today, hamstring apparently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemtizz Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Out for 2 weeks according to their Twitter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Loves a metaphor this lad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Chuckle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Zlatan, HBA, Diarra and Di Maria up for French Player of the Year Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ndegwa Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Zlatan, HBA, Diarra and Di Maria up for French Player of the Year Hull mate, Hull. Perspective please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Someone told Bruce that he'd ran less than their keeper once, and at the end of the day, isn't that what really matters? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemtizz Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Well he's already one step ahead of Zlatan and Di Maria what with him actually being French. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_NUFC Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Well he's already one step ahead of Zlatan and Di Maria what with him actually being French. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Linked with FC Bayern Munich in L'Equipe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Well he's already one step ahead of Zlatan and Di Maria what with him actually being French. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowlingcrofty Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 In talks with Barcelona according to L'equipe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 I for one would be honoured. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaus Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 If he ends up at Barca man :lol: :pardsgrin: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Then I'd have to start liking Barcelona again. Hmmm. OK! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 In talks with Barcelona according to L'equipe as much as i would like to see it he'll surely not play much there with the front 3 they have? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 A Barca shirt with Ben Arfa on the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Pardew. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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