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Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

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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.”

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