Hatem Ben Arfa has been training at France’s top Football Academy Clairefontaine for many years now.
Ben Arfa – in action for France recently
And indeed he completed most of his rehabilitation from the double fracture of his left leg there, from October of 2010 through April of the next year, before rejoining Newcastle.
The mercurial player, who has been gracing Newcastle’s right wing this year, has been discussed by his former coach Claude Dussault at Clairefontaine, on RMC Radio today:
“Before arriving at Clairefontaine, Ben Arfa was already known throughout the Parisian football scene. He was making the headlines. He was younger than the others, he wasn’t the best, but he definitely had the technical qualities of a good left-footed player.”
“He worked and analysed his technique and his speed. He is one of the most talented players that has ever come out Clairefontaine. He is the Nicolas Anelka type.”
“But he only uses 75% of his potential. He has just begun to understand football, which is also defensive and collective. At Clairefontaine, he could do more in tiring his opponent and recovering the ball, as he is starting to do now.”
Huge credit must go to Alan Pardew and the training staff at Newcastle for making this genius – a hard working genius.
And by his own admission, Ben Arfa has finally got that it’s a team game, and he must play for the team and not just himself, which was the case when he played at Lyon and Marseilles.
Newcastle fans will be very willing to see Ben Arfa improve even more in the next few seasons on Tyneside, as he reaches his full potential as a footballer.
Certainly from what we’ve seen already this year, it boggles the mind, if that’s only 75% of this lad’s potential.
But we also have a sneaking suspicion that Claude Dussault may be right in what he says.
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
76 responses so far ↓
1 rich_toonfan // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Heard a few good things about Jong Il-Gwan but not too much.
@gt89….not sure the merchandising will be successful with him though. A big market in South Korea…with all the tight government control in North Korea they probably wont here about him unless he is doing well.
2 pardew no 1 // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:21 PM
i bet next season he will go to real Madrid for 35 million
3 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:22 PM
The article if it hasn’t been linked yet:
https://twitter.com/KevinDoocey/status/210109142520696834/photo/1/large
4 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:25 PM
@WWYCD
Surely a development player as u say, imagine tho, if it is indeed true, and if he really is a proper talent.
A north korean striker star?
Selling shirts much?
5 Sir Asian Magpie // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Great article title I must say!
Watched the French tonight, looked impressive but again were up against poor opposition.. Though going forward they do look brilliant. Keep Ribery fit and they’ve got a chance of going all the way. Can see them beating England on monday for sure..
6 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:29 PM
@jakesome
It’s stretched over the Asian market mate, not limited to North Korea at all.
7 GeordieToon89 // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:32 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dq58v4obog
he scores all 3 of Koreas goals against Australia in this vid
8 rich_toonfan // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Dannyo
I’m with jakesome on this one….can’t see many shirt sales coming from his signing.
Noth koreans wont be able to afford it and most wont be able to see games.
Also South koreans might also be popular in other asian countries but north korea is an unpopular country so can’t see much merchandising coming from this.
9 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:33 PM
@rich
Weather it’ll sell shirts on not, the important thing is that we may have a good striker prospect on our hands.
Time will tell.
10 WWYCD // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Dannyo
Haha tbh I dont care that much about selling shirts, we sell a hell of a lot anyway and doesnt seem to get us all that much, but getting the brand out into the Asian market and if we signed this lad it would state that we are out their scouting for talent could get us more than a few more black and white shirts wandering around imo
I fear the SportsDirect Asian expansion plan is being set to be announced though…
11 rich_toonfan // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Oh yeh, I think in football terms if he is good enough get him in.
Even though we might not make much money off him that is not really important. We dont sign players to sell shirts, just to improve the team.
12 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:38 PM
@WWYCD
Well, tbh, it’s not a bad idea, and if MA gets more money in his pocket, then maybe he’ll be more lenient with the cash
It seems the press is picking up everything we do in Europe atm, so we have to go all the way to North Korea to get away
13 rich_toonfan // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:43 PM
@dannyo
would our scouts even be allowed in north korea? and even if they were….which one volunteered to go haha
14 tonynufc // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:45 PM
@rich_toon. Graham carr has been scouting him since september apperently
15 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:46 PM
Dannyo can U see someone from s Korea buying a n koreans shirt or indeed any other Asian domocracy without already being a toon fan
16 WWYCD // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Dannyo
Haha I doubt much would get MA to be more lenient with his money not quite his style I feel
I pity Graham Carr these days his holidays must be very stressful as he is sitting on a Spainish beach with 10 PL scouts hiding in bushes 20 feet away just making sure he doesnt find another player
17 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Sorry lads im on a 4 hour coach ride and just a bit grouchy
18 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:48 PM
@Jakesome
I dunno mate, but usually, when someone from the west becomes somewhat famous in the east, there’s a real fuss about it. THat’s just the genereal conceus.
I’m sure this could be analyzed to death, but i won’t bother checking atm
Let’s just say that hopefully, if it happens, he’s not a dud, and he can develope into a proper player.
19 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM
@jakesome
That west east thing should be opposite…
20 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Was trying to get into a Korean war argument. Really interesting conflict where 700 lads for the Scotts held off tens of thousands of Chinese and n Korean troops for days
21 Beattie25 // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Work permit?
22 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:53 PM
Beattie now hat could be a bich. Where does he play now?
23 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:53 PM
@WWYCD
But who leaks all these stories? Must be bloody annyoing. We should just say we’re in talks with that, that and that player, then go completely oposite.
Something must be done, cause i fear we will never sign a player under the table again.
And if we want the right players, then sometimes we need to approach them without anyone knowing.
24 WWYCD // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Anyway lads am off have a good night
25 WWYCD // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:57 PM
Dannyo
Fair point mate and I think this summer will tell if our clock and dagger style will hold up under the pressure tough times ahead if it doesnt imo
Might be surprised come September though
anyway have a good un mate
26 Dannyo // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:58 PM
There’s a clock and dagger style? I swear i thought it was cloak and dagger…
27 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 10:59 PM
If I throw a name into the hat as a transfer target, will I get endless pointless replies!
28 Beattie25 // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:00 PM
I think he plays in the north Korean league. (that’s what Wiki says).
American players have difficulty getting permits so N. Koreans have got no chance.
29 Beattie25 // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:01 PM
No you won’t hotdog because nobody likes a smart arse
30 Beattie25 // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:02 PM
By the way end your questions with a ? And not a !
31 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Beattie – gotta say I like a smart arse, female ass just to clarify
32 Sir Asian Magpie // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Didn’t the mackems recently sign a young korean? They managed a permit…
33 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Beattie – You are correct to pick me up on my poor grammar, I do apologise!!??? Knob
34 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:08 PM
@32 id put money on him being s Korean. Up until the death of the dictator ordinary people couldn’t leave the country
35 ToonAndy // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Are you boys responsible for the “welcome to Newcastle” comments on Jong Il-Gwans YouTube video? Haha
36 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Yes a bit of agro should get me through this coach ride
37 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Jakesome – Where is your full stop?
38 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:12 PM
.
39 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:13 PM
Anyone know a joke?
40 Sir Asian Magpie // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:15 PM
You know your struggling for discussion when it comes to punctuation wars! Haha
41 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:15 PM
toonandy not me. What’s he look like don’t want to rinse my useage on my phone
42 ToonAndy // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:18 PM
Who thinks while carrs been to PSV games he’s actually been scouting Wijnaldum and not pieters?
43 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:18 PM
Jakesome- I met a beautiful woman whilst out walking the other night. There was a spark between us and she fell at my feet. As we lay there making love, I thought to myself…these tazers are well worth the money!
44 ToonAndy // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Jakesome… From the very little I have seen of him … He is very fast, not afraid to run at players and knows where the net is… Also good header of the ball… Could be massive gem
45 hotdog // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Worth a read folks – http://www.themag.co.uk/tyne-talk/ben-arfa-on-france-cabaye-hazard-and-fearing-england/
46 GeordieToon89 // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Wijnaldrum scored for holland u21s tonight, cracking player but would cost abit like
47 jakesome // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Cheers Andy
@hotdog not to fault your effort but wasn’t that posted a couple of days ago. Appriciate the effort tho mate
48 cupiddstunt // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Why are so many going on about merchandising?
I’m sure there will be plenty of Korean sweat shops that will be knocking them out at a fraction of what SD will be charging.
Not wishing to stereotype but counterfeiting is a way of life out there.
49 Baro // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Hopefully our new sensation!!
Jong IL Gwan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSZxp1qA9wg
50 tarie4 // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:39 PM
I keep reading people saying England is gonna play like Chelsea, solid at the back. Am sorry but in the semis and final of the champions league Chelsea were nothing short of lucky, they were not solid at all!!! It was rather poor finishing from the other teams. If England play like that, they will get beat, and beaten well.
saying Chelsea were solid at the back in those two games is the same as saying Newcastle were solid against qpr away and Blackburn away. Luck is luck, and its apart of sport and life. I congratulate Chelsea on their win, but truth be told, they were not solid at all!!! Barca shud have thrashed them.
51 cupiddstunt // Jun 5, 2012 at 11:58 PM
tarie4
But they didn’t thrash them as they were kept to shooting from outside the box and that is something barca is not very good at, they like to walk it in and were not allowed to walk the ball into the net and were short on invention in both legs as Chelski were solid at the back.
You would expect the likes of barca to have chances with the amount of possession they generally have, and they had massive possession and lost to a team that showed a very disciplined approach to the game.
The same in the final Chelski were very disciplined and limited BM to little in the way a=of clear cut chances, they stifled the BM wings and made the most of their one or two chances.
Yes every game has its luck and Chelski made theirs although I can’t see England doing the same, as I do not think the most effective English players are in the squad.
52 Warwick Hunt // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Where have all these rumours of the North Korean signing come from?
53 tarie4 // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:12 AM
cupiddstunt
But barca didn’t just shoot from outside the box, they had plenty of other chances inside the box, fabregas missed some sitters at Stanford bridge, tbh, it was just written in the stars that Chelsea will win the cl hahaha
Coz they certainly rode their luck a million times. 
54 graham cwarr // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:19 AM
I see porto just signed a guy in the papiss cisse mould. 25-26 out and out goal scorer. Got pace and strength and a deft touch in the box along with decent heading skill. Jackson martinez a columbian. What’s the bet they sell him within 2years for double what they paid at least
55 graham cwarr // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:29 AM
Is this north Korean guy the one who.looked impressive at the world cup? The one who cried during his national anthem and the only guy in the north Korean squad who had a mobile phone?
Same guy?
56 graham cwarr // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:33 AM
Jong il gwan is the replacement for ba.
*sits back and awaits havoc*
57 We Love Him You Hatem // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:38 AM
Not sure, but I dont think they let many lads leave N Korea unless you escape to China. As far as merchandising theres none to be had. The country cant even feed there own people
58 ilovetoon8788 // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:41 AM
I hope we can the North Korean striker. Because if our scouts think he’s good enough for the premier league then great.
Also if we play 2 upfront he’ll offer us something different as these Asian players can be a workhorse upfront. He can run non stop. Great workrate!
59 samich // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:44 AM
Certainly looks a quality player. If he signs I’m getting his name on my jersey.
Plenty of tweets about him from twitter. No smoke without fire!
60 ochytoon // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:55 AM
What’s all this nonsense about a north Korean lad signing for us? Pretty sure they don’t allow their citizens out of the country so it might be a little tricky to have him playing for us.
61 samich // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:58 AM
No they are allowed to leave now under strict government supervision, we’re probably picking up the best players that are newly available to us
62 samich // Jun 6, 2012 at 12:59 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jong_Il-Gwan
Says here we’re linked with him too. There’s a bit on twitter about him. Anyone able tweet to any of our Journos? Don’t know many.
63 JAMSHA // Jun 6, 2012 at 1:25 AM
http://www.themag.co.uk/blog/play-newcastle-transfer-bingo-any-player-any-club-story/
64 ~Perchinho the Pheonix~ // Jun 6, 2012 at 1:33 AM
@ochytoon
That’s exactly what I was thinking…
Also, am I the only one seeing the potential irony if we do sign Jong IL Gwan?.
Ji DOng Won for sunderland is from South Korea right?
65 GeordieToon89 // Jun 6, 2012 at 1:49 AM
Moussa Sissoko looks like hes signing for Roma, would of loved him here
66 chris_g // Jun 6, 2012 at 1:58 AM
ochytoon – North Korean footballers are allowed to play abroad – this guy is currently playing in the Swiss league: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pak_Kwang-Ryong
67 chris_g // Jun 6, 2012 at 2:15 AM
From Tribal Football, so take it with a pinch of salt:
Final paragraph at end of article says:
“Newcastle’s Chief Asian Scout was dispatched to watch the striker in several of North Korea’s internationals, including last September’s game where they travelled to Tokyo to face Kagawa’s Japan. The club are rumored to be submitting a six figure bid to make Il-Gwan Newcastle’s second signing of the summer after Reims’ Romain Amalfitano. But they need to be quick. With news of Newcastle’s interest, rumors are flying that both Arsenal and Dortmund will be looking to capitalise on any failure on the North East club’s part to do a deal.”
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/why-tottenham-man-utd-target-leandro-damiao-can-be-years-great-rags-riches-football-tale-32
68 Whistler // Jun 6, 2012 at 6:19 AM
On Ben Arfa…if what we’ve seen so far is 75% of the lads potential then we have a true world talent on our hands…I’m surprised our gutter press haven’t linked him with a move away as yet…or maybe that’s for next week when they’re struggling to find a story…according to the story tellers in the Great British press, they’ve had almost our entire first team leaving this summer and we’ve only just made it into June!
Krul to Spurs
Simpson to anywhere (probably true)
Santon to Roma
Taylor (spared any rumour due to injury)
Coloccini to Man City
Tiote to Chelsea
Cabaye to Man Utd
Jonas (no rumour as yet)
Ben Arfa (no rumour as yet)
Ba to Spurs
Cisse to Man Utd/Man City
Hats off to the British press eh…incisive journalism at it’s very finest…I’d give it about 7-10 days as soon as Benny kicks a ball in the Euros and they’ll be headlining ‘Ben Arfa to _______’(insert club here)
69 Spuggy // Jun 6, 2012 at 7:32 AM
Arfa still has a way to go before he can be considered world class. He has moments of world class play, but he need to play it simple and for the team.
70 Whistler // Jun 6, 2012 at 7:51 AM
Agreed Spuggy…if what we’ve seen of Benny so far is him at 75% though we’ve got some player on our hands
71 cyprus // Jun 6, 2012 at 7:53 AM
So who won the philosophical argument, HBA who said he favored short barca style passing, or AP who, according to HBA favored long crosses. Just not sure HBA would describe coach’s contibution as huge, sorry to spoil the party.
72 Whistler // Jun 6, 2012 at 8:10 AM
I wouldn’t entirely disagree there Cyprus…imo the biggest factor in Ben Arfa’s resurgence is the time he spent out of the game, I think the penny probably dropped when he was faced with his career possibly being over…made him grow up a bit I reckon.
73 Tiote // Jun 6, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Police investigating the Joey Barton assault case have said they are unable to view any relevant CCTV footage of the incident.
“Unfortunately,” said a senior police officer, “the security company involved had already sent the tapes to You’ve Been Framed.”
74 Jail for Ashley // Jun 6, 2012 at 8:28 AM
A bit old now but whoever thinks that N Koreans can afford to buy football shirts when the vast majority of the population can barely feed themselves,wants to spend a little less time playing FIFA and start catching up with a few current affairs programs .
75 tarie4 // Jun 6, 2012 at 8:58 AM
cyprus
Even if he doesn’t agree, its there for the world to see!!! It doesn’t really matter what he thinks, its what is evident and what most people know, his workrate shot up, he passed more, and knew wen to take a player on and wen to pass.
It was Rodgers who said on his 1st press conference for the bindippers
“you train players, I educate them”
Ben arfa was educated by pards!! Fact.
76 Whistler // Jun 6, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Tarie4
Pardew certainly has had a hand in Ben Arfa’s development but imo it’s certainly not entirely down to AP nor in the main down to AP…quoting words like fact after expressing an opinion just makes you sound like David Brent. Were you there at training? Were you in Pardews office anytime he spoke to HBA? Are you personal friends with HBA? If not then how is what you say fact? You merely have an opinion like Cyprus has an opinion and I have an opinion
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