Yesterday, news emerged from France there was a possibility of a Claude Puel-Hatem Ben Arfa reunion at Leicester City.
Since the French manager managed to rekindle the former Newcastle forward’s form at Nice, the two have been very close, and even stayed in constant contact over the past year.
Struggling at Paris Saint-Germain, the 30-year-old kept in touch with his former coach as a shoulder to lean on during difficult times, and sources close to both men stated a reunion could be on the cards.
However, one man who doesn’t see this as a good thing is Christophe Dugarry, who has doubts about the whole thing, feeling it wouldn’t be a smart move for the Foxes.
He said on RMC Sport, relayed by Le10 Sport: “Will Vardy and Mahrez accept a free pass for a player who hasn’t proven himself in England or for the France team, and who had just one exceptional year at Nice?
“It’ll be chaos. Plus, something else really disturbs me. If Ben Arfa this coming winter has the chance to play football again but prefers to spend four months doing nothing to get his money, never take him! It means he doesn’t want to play football”.
Although insinuating the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy half run the club, the former France international does have a bit of a point regarding the French forward.
Barely playing at Paris Saint-Germain, Ben Arfa has always needed the team to be created around him for him to shine.
Will he get that chance at Leicester? We doubt it, what with the talent already at Puel’s disposal.
Furthermore, is it a risk worth taking on a 30-year-old? It was different when he arrived at Nice with nothing to lose.
This, on the other hand, could be his last chance to salvage his career, and while Puel is a great manager to help him do that, it won’t come cheap for Leicester.
