It is looking like Newcastle are likely to sign Ben Arfa at the end of the season, once he is fit again, even though he will not have played the specified number of games, thought to be 25, in the loan deal agreed with Marseilles.
Ben Arfa – scoring his first ever goal for the Magpies
Ben Arfa was discharged from Manchester Infirmary yesterday, and is due to return home to France in the next couple of days to be with his folks for a while.
But the good news that came out of the Newcastle camp immediately following his injury, was that the lad wants to do his recuperation at the Newcastle club and not return to Marseilles.
Given that he doesn’t really get on with Didier Deschamps the manager, that’s probably not too surprising, and he does not see his future at the Marseilles club.
It also seems that Ben Arfa was fitting into things nicely at Newcastle, both on and off the pitch, as Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said today:
“The fact he is staying on Tyneside for his rehabilitation shows how much he still wants to be here.” “There will be times when he does go back to France to do certain parts of his rehab work, but he will still very much be a part of the squad here.”
“The one thing we have always known about Hatem is he was desperate to come here and it is a massive blow for him to be injured so soon after arriving.” “He has a passion for the place and he had already begun to fit into the team spirit we have here.” “He has a real desire to do well and that just makes it even tougher on him.”
That’s good to hear from the manager, and certainly one of Hughton’s undoubted strengths is his ability to mold the squad into having fantastic team spirit and desire, and they just never give up on the field of play.
We all witnessed that once again at Eastlands last Sunday, when everything and the garden sink seemed to be against them in that game, but they will have made lots of new fans with that dogged determination they again showed.
It’s going to be a long six months that’s for sure, but we have a high confidence that Newcastle will sign this player in the summer, as long as he recovers well from this terrible injury.
We think he will.
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Comment #1FIRST!!!
dutchgeordie
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Comment #2the word on the grapevine is that Nigel de Jong said in the dressing room before the match that he would “rock Ben Arfa so he wouldn’t get a chance to show his skills”!
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Comment #3So has any timeframe been given for Benny’s recovery? im guessing 6months, but the club havent said anything yet, have they?
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Comment #4i wouldnt be surprised if dejong, despite the ‘nice guy’ he’s acclaimed to be, was told to make sure BenArfa doesnt play his game. He did just that, and the double leg break was a bonus. He’s an absolute joke.
Fifa have said they’d wanna look into he effects of the physical game. The medical cheif of FIFA talked about this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9071151.stm
alex84
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Comment #5SL_toon, no timeframe has been given by the club yet, put media is saying 6months…BUT could be sooner if things go real well…lets hope ay!
also now that he wont play the 25games will this mean the french club can change the price? and other teams can come in for him???
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Comment #6Alex84,
i dont think any other clubs will get preference over us. If its a normal loan agreement, and im pretty sure it is, we are the first choice to buy him. However, the 24game clause only meants that we will be forced to buy him if he plays 24games. Since he probably wont be, neglecting any miracle cures for broken tibia and fibula, we wont be forced to buy him but will probably still have dibs on him! 😀
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Comment #7as for price, i dont think Marseille can change the price. BenArfa is class, no doubt, but no one wanted him this season except us and Werder Bremen! Suprisingly!
So, a BenArfa who’s jus recovered from a double leg break, would many clubs be coming after him? Unless he scores 10goals in the last 5games of the season, i doubt any club would put in a bid higher that the 5.5mill we’re offering…
BASSKING-FUSE
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Comment #8alex84 Why would they change the price when they don’t really want him. He hasn’t shown anything to them which would merit them changing the price, I mean if he had played for half the season as well as he did for three games then they may of changed the price, but with an addition of three games to what he had played last season, I can’t see a huge money increase.
BASSKING-FUSE
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Comment #9Aside obviously if another club stepped in and offered more money that is. Then we gotta hope Benny rejects their contract and holds out for the Toon.
BASSKING-FUSE
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Comment #10SL_Toon- 5.5million, are you sure Citeh don’t need another player who can’t even get into their 25 man squad?
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Comment #11FUSE
Haha! If we were offering 20Mill, then citeh will probably get itchy fingers and jump in with a 25Mill bid for him! But 5.5Mill, naaah! He’s on par with their wingers in terms of skill, but he’s too cheap. Citeh dont do business that way… come to think of it, Citeh dont do real business at all, only losses year after year .:D
BASSKING-FUSE
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Comment #12Haha. I see what your getting at, Citeh will sign so many players before the transfer rules change. They will be left with no team chemistry and not be able to ship out any of the past its. < There will be many.
SL_toon
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Comment #13in a way, its a good thing, as disillusioned citeh players leave or are sold, they go for 80% discounts!
CT
Oct 8, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Comment #14Off topic, Villa`s John Carew currently available on a free end off yhe season. ????
stestickle
Oct 8, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Comment #15carew dont need him well past his best and we got 6 first team strikers already would like to see more of ranger and (xisco) think the lads got something about him he seems strong and fast with good vision he could be like a new signing but have to say attitude may be a problem but look at HBA just think xisco needs a arm around him and some confidence alot of people may disagree but this my opinion.