When listing the most exciting players Newcastle United had in the past 15 years, it’s hard not to mention Hatem Ben Arfa. Signed from Marseille back in 2010, he joined the Magpies as one of France’s biggest prospects, already being a national team player at the time.
In four years featuring for the St. James’ Park’s side, he held a record of 14 goals and 15 assists in 86 appearances. And with him not living up to expectations at the club, he first moved out on a loan to Hull City, and then ended up walking away for free.
Following the departure from Newcastle, Ben Arfa still had great chances to recover his career at Nice and Paris Saint Germain. From them on, he ended up jumping from club to club and being released from all contracts at Rennes, Real Valladolid, Bordeaux and Lille.
The outlet features a piece showing how exciting the start of his career at Lyon, Marseille and Newcastle had been, and points out that today he has ‘too high’ demands for a 35-year-old. That’s why this is the ‘path to retirement that he risks taking’.
‘What a pity for such great potential’, writes Media Foot Marseille, recalling the sporadic highlights he had.
