We almost saw Hatem Ben Arfa in Ligue 1 again. Four years after his last match, the attacking midfielder could have signed last winter for Nice, where Jean-Pierre Rivère tried to bring him back. If he has converted to padel, “HBA” has not officially announced his retirement and some, like the former president of the Gym, obviously believe he is still capable of shining with the ball.
It must be said that the former French international (15 caps) made an impression at the OGCN during the 2015-2016 season, scoring 17 goals in the league. His talent particularly amazed Yoan Cardinale. “When you arrive at half-time of a match, and you go up to a player to say, ‘Please make us win,’ and he does it, that’s because he’s someone.”confides the former Nice goalkeeper in
The Team.
“We wondered what he was doing with us”
For him, there is no doubt: Hatem Ben Arfa is the strongest player he has encountered during his career. An observation that others have made before him, despite the strong character and unpredictable side of the native of Clamart (39 years old). “In training, it was yes days, no dayshe said. When those were yes days, we looked at him with wide eyes and wondered what he was doing with us. »
The former Lyonnais was also a good friend. “He is in his worldexplains Yoan Cardinale. My first starting match (…), when (Claude) Puel marks on the flipchart the team that will start opposite and Hatem gets up and laughs to himself, we all wonder why. We ask him. He answers us: ‘They put such and such a player in central defense! But I’m going to kill him!’ » From the great Hatem Ben Arfa.
