Hull sending Hatem Ben Arfa back to Newcastle – reports
Hull are to send Hatem Ben Arfa back to Newcastle according to reports this morning.
The Mail report that Steve Bruce has had issues with the Newcastle winger and finally snapped at Old Trafford last weekend.
With only thirty five minutes on the clock and a goal down, Mrs Doubtfire raised eyebrows when he subbed Ben Arfa.
According to The Mail, the Hull manager was furious with Hatem’s attitude and then it is claimed, there was another incident between Bruce and Hatem Ben Arfa as the players made their way to the dressing room at half-time.
Hull have denied there are any problems with Hatem Ben Arfa, though the newspaper states that Bruce was especially angry because it was his 700th game in management and he was back at his beloved Man Utd.
The Hull boss is said to have axed Ben Arfa against Everton and on checking, he didn’t feature in the eighteen players at Goodison Park.
Hull have claimed that Hatem trained as usual on Friday and stated that he is a ‘model professional’.
However, the fact Hatem Ben Arfa went from being in the team to then out of the eighteen in the next match, would certainly suggest that these reported problems between player and manager aren’t purely made up.
Hull are reported to want to send Ben Arfa back to St.James’ Park ASAP but I’m guessing both they and Alan Pardew will be carefully reading what their agreement states.
Newcastle fans will probably be split as always on the player, some claiming this vindicates Alan Pardew while others will be thinking that Hatem is being made a convenient scapegoat. Steve Bruce having being given a relative fortune to spend and yet he has dragged his club to one place above the relegation zone only by goal difference.
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