Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Newcastle United Exile Hatem Ben Arfa Permanently

10 years ago
Share

It is reported this morning that Newcastle United have exiled Haten Ben Arfa permanently.

While reports quoted Ben Arfa yesterday saying that he was fit and available for Monday night’s match at the Emirates, it is now claimed that the club’s decision to allow (send him back) the winger to go back home is a permanent one.

The Sunday People report a source inside the club saying that Alan Pardew has put Hatem into exile because he was a bad influence on the rest of the squad and that already there has allegedly been a better mood amongst the players.

Ben Arfa was spotted leaving Newcastle Airport before the Swansea match and there was no great improvement against a very nervous visiting team, so we await with interest to see what great benefit this alleged move will have made on Monday night.

Depending on where you stand, you will probably either see Hatem as a very convenient scapegoat for the shambles at the club, or as simply a player who doesn’t give a toss about the club or fans.

The Sunday People source;

“Alan Pardew and his management team had a lot of soul searching to do before they made the decision to send Ben Arfa back to France.

“It was a decision they felt they had to make for the good of the whole club and the rest of the squad.

“Everybody knows Ben Arfa is a good player on his day but this season has been so negative both on and off the pitch, and it’s had an effect on the rest of the squad. Since he’s been back in France things among the squad have improved considerably.

“Pardew’s tried everything to get Ben Arfa into the right frame of mind, giving him time off to go home whenever he wanted and even given him his own physiotherapist, all to no avail.

Pardew knows Ben Arfa’s a massive fan favourite and also that Mike Ashley is his number one fan.

“This made the decision to send him back all the more difficult but it was a decision Pardew and his management team felt they’d had no choice but to make.”

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks