Trained at Stade Rennais before being recruited by AC Milan, Yoann Gourcuff exploded during his time with the Girondins de Bordeaux between 2008 and 2010. Considered one of the greatest hopes of his generation, the former playmaker did not, however, have the career that his talent suggested. Just like a certain Hatem Ben Arfa.
Announced as a future crack in his debut with Lyon, “HBA” then went through a series of clubs without managing to confirm the hopes placed in him, despite strokes of brilliance and genius recognized by all. In the end, the kid from Clamart only had two good seasons during his career, with Nice and Rennes. And yet, he had nothing to envy of Messi in terms of talent, according to Souleymane Diawara.
For Kampo, the former central defender of the Girondins de Bordeaux assured that Ben Arfa was the best player with whom he played, ahead of Yoann Gourcuff. As a reminder, Diawara played with the first city at OM and with the second at Bordeaux.
“Technically, Ben Arfa has nothing to envy of Messi”
“Yoann Gourcuff, in the ranking, he is second. The first is Hatem (Ben Arfa). He’s a kid, he’s stupid. When he wants to, you’re dead. When he feels like it… On a table he dribbles at you. But when he doesn’t want to… With the qualities he has… There are a lot of similarities with Messi. I’m just talking technically, he has nothing to envy of Messi. Hatem, when he wants… », said the new consultant for Ligue 1+.
And to add: “ Even when we are champions with OM, it’s a second big part of the season with him, with Valbuena and the others. But when they returned to the workforce… He decides, he tells you what he’s going to do to you. Afterwards, it wasn’t with me, he wasn’t crazy (laughs). I’m not a practice player. I can’t be 100% in training at the risk of injuring one of my teammates, which will penalize me at the weekend. It can be frustrating, it’s true. »
