Hatem Ben Arfa has made his statement today, and the good thing is that he has not announced his retirement, which was one of the things rumored last night after his agent had said the Frenchman was contemplating retirement, but he has announced he is leaving Nice.
Ben Arfa – when things were going well at Newcastle
FIFA refused to let him play for Nice this season, after he had played for Hull and played one game for the Newcastle U21 game and FIFA classified that as an official game – which was simply ridiculous, but Nice lost their appeal to the FIFA.
Players are only allowed to play for a maximum of two different clubs in one season.
This is what the 27 year-old has said today:
“Today I’m finished with Nice, but maybe that won’t be for ever. I want to thank everyone here – it’s a real regret that I can’t continue, but sometimes you have to accept it and move on.”
“Today I’ll try to be positive and see what I can do. On Monday I was on the floor but coming in to training today has made me feel better. Now I just have to do the best I can for the future.”
“The solution may be to go abroad. Would I go to Russia? I’m ready to go to the North Pole just to play football again. But for now I can’t really speculate – I just have to think.”
“I won’t say I’m sick of French football, because there are good people here – I’m just disappointed and sad.”
There have been some rumors that Ben Arfa may try his luck in the MLS over here in the US.
Certainly he would be huge hit in America, and players with the abilities of a Ben Arfa are what the MLS are looking for – it’s called entertainment.
A sad Ben Arfa today
And the MLS season will start shortly, so maybe he is negotiating a deal with an MLS club – which is why he has left Nice?
It would be a good move for Ben Arfa, and he could make some decent money in the US – and could become a star again?
We really hope this lad can recreate his career somewhere – anywhere!
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133 comments so far
Belfast
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:27 PM
Comment #81Remember proud to be a geordie? He was a good laugh
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:28 PM
Comment #82Sorry about the scat there Jeff….
Average_Contents
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:29 PM
Comment #83RandY
Obviously understand your reticence and one that is shared by the blog including myself but you can usually get an inkling of when somebody is telling porkies. Take that poster late last year for example. Ended up contradicting himself on multiple ococcasions when questioned in depth and in my mind just rehashed old info/rumours available on the t’internet. Many of which had been discussed on here beforehand.
I’m not an advocate for JD as he could just be leading us down the garden path or indeed was led there himself by Carr but he’s never posted anything of substance claiming to be an itk in the past, just the usual football crack.
Those who claim to be itk’s usually post just about that trying to leave the blog on tenterhooks much like the poster I mentioned earlier. Not once did that person post beforehand about anything.
I’m sure you get what I’m getting at so apologies in advance for boring you.
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Comment #84Belfast
I remember him. He was one who thought “bullish*t ” in French was a real player.
jayphoto
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Comment #85Think he’ll struggle in the MLS! Although the ability isn’t high the work rate is much higher than the EPL! Hence why defoe wasn’t a roaring success! All of the MLS teams are based around work rate, effort and teamwork, its the American way. His attitude will go down like a lead balloon not to mention most teams have their designated marquee player slots filled.
Hatem will end up either in Qatar or a Russian side like Rubin Kazan
welshgeordie9
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:31 PM
Comment #86RandY (nee BandB)
So who moaned to ed about you then, I’ve got one person in mind and he’s been very very quiet last couple of days.
Ha ha ha
Average_Contents
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:31 PM
Comment #87I agree with LFG on one point though. You could still get the sack if you spill the beans after, he has your card.
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:32 PM
Comment #88JD was just getting ready to spill all when he wisely realised that this site is visited by mackem wums arseholes and NUST members
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:33 PM
Comment #89Jesper can you explain all these new bloggers to me? Who is RandR? What about RandY? And what is a Jeff from Benwell? We need to go back to simpler times. And yes optimate Ferrerya is just made up. He is an imaginary friend of Mike. They play games and talk together at the castle. Good company for Mike.
welshgeordie9
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:33 PM
Comment #90Redknapp can be our hero in the summer.
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:34 PM
Comment #91AC,
I think JD should be cut some slack. The poster you refer to really was pushing his “misunderstood Mike” agenda.
JD hasn’t done that before, as far as I remember.
Softly, softly, catchee monkey 🙂
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:35 PM
Comment #92Welshie have you noticed we have a contributor using the name Randy
That reminds me of your real name
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:35 PM
Comment #93Randy Andy from Tonypandy
ha ha ha
Belfast
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:36 PM
Comment #94Transfer sage has been the only one that survived the mob, but only after he agreed to stop.
All the rest where killed in action
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:37 PM
Comment #95Don’t worry A_C mate I’m in the know about lots of things. I won’t lead you astray. Read the Blog Hobbit Weekly and get all the up to the minute news mate. Why just this week we have the following headline:
“Mike Ashley Underwent Emergency Brain Surgery Last Weekend.” I then go on to explain that he had a heavy build up of ear wax in his phone ear. It was crucial to get that cleared out!!!
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:38 PM
Comment #96G2
Agreed.
It was far easier to follow your record 40 consecutive posts, I agree.
No-one could have gainsaid a word of any of it, either,.
Anyway, you can have the attention now.
I’ll read it later.
Average_Contents
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:39 PM
Comment #97RandY
I agree with that sentiment and no, I don’t think he’s posted anything of the like previously.
JD
Your good to go lol.
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:40 PM
Comment #98Whoa there RandY pardner. Who put a burr under your saddle? You’ve cut me deep with that one. Very painful. Harsh witticisms there.
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:44 PM
Comment #99And just to set the record straight I never reached 40 consecutive posts unfortunately. Beermonkey kept dipping his toe in. 🙁
welshgeordie9
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:44 PM
Comment #100So how many days is it to the next transfer window.
welshgeordie9
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:46 PM
Comment #101GeordieTwo
Excuse me Mr Thong but i hold the record for the most comments in a row.
JAMSHA(CARVER SLAYER)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:47 PM
Comment #102NEXT 2 yrs PLAN UNDER FAT MAN
Newcastle – League 1
Rangers – CL
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:47 PM
Comment #103Don’t complain to me welshie. Complain to RandY (nee BandB) or whatever his name is now. Harrumph!
MacToon
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:47 PM
Comment #104Are Xperia E3 phones any good?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:48 PM
Comment #105GT…we have an expression here “sweet child has many names”, so basically they are all BandB mate 😉
…a Jeff is a sound small dog makes I think…??
welshgeordie9
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:48 PM
Comment #106i don’t want to be a big head or anything but i am in the top 1.
Ha ha ha
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:48 PM
Comment #107And that’s Thongman to you sir. Ask Mr. Tuff. It’s a fully accredited name (patent pending).
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Comment #108G2
I do remember.that.
I formed the theory today that by peeing in Mike’s back pocket (under your tutelage, I might add) he has simply rendered that contents of the great man’s wallet soggy and incapable of being offered in exchange for footballers.
So it’s all your fault, really.
As good a theory as any…………….
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Comment #109Jesper @ 105 😆 😆 mate!!!
GeordieTwo
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:51 PM
Comment #110Hmmmm, very interesting theory RandY. I’ll look into it. I always thought Mike carried his purse clutched in his grubby little hands at all times.
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Comment #111jesper,
True.
They haven’t held conversations with each other though.
Tonypandy Andy,
It is true what you say too.
You have kept this blog alive many times when no-one but you was reading it.
jayphoto
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Comment #112Speaking as someone who has a job where i occasionally get to meet famous ppl (Mash included) and get to hear the odd bit of info theres no reason to doubt JD! Hes hardly made any earth shattering declarations etc just relaying on that he met someone by chance!
MidlandsMag
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Comment #113Jeff@17
Domenica is Italian for Sunday
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:02 PM
Comment #114Sorry Italian is my 5th or 6th language
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:03 PM
Comment #115MM,
I know that.
I don’t actually know on which day I was born.
If if was a sentimental, godly choice, they never bothered telling me.
RandY (nee BandB)
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:04 PM
Comment #116And it’s Latin, surely?
Marty-Toon
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:08 PM
Comment #117Oh poor poor Benny,
Tell me,how do you go from scoring goals like he did against Everton,Bolton and Blackburn and then walk around pitches without controlling a ball once in 90 mins?
No sympathy for someone with undoubted talent that just pishes it down the Swansea
Transfer Sage
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:09 PM
Comment #118Belfast
Never agreed to stop, as I said last year my mate left the club, moved over to the UAE. Otherwise I’d still post info.
Doesn’t matter what people think of me, I’d share any info I had.
firebug666
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:13 PM
Comment #119RandY (nee BandB)
You can always look up you birth year calendar and see what day you were born on if it’s significant or that important to you. 😀
Jail for Ashley
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:18 PM
Comment #120For the record while friends reunited are on. You’ve painted me as as some kind of snitch, in the years I’ve blogged on here I’ve complained to Ed about one poster, that was mag, bob, guvnor etc and his return a few months later, the fact that welshgeordie appeared at exactly the
same time backslapping and high fiving his comments made it look like one of his aliases who was trying his very best to ruin the blog. Say what you will about me but I don’t go running to Ed every time someone dishes it out.