Liverpool target Hatem Ben Arfa on his future '“ and his Newcastle and Hull 'nightmare'

Hatem Ben Arfa has been speaking about his future '“ after a stunning return to form at Nice.
Hatem Ben ArfaHatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa

The former Newcastle United forward has scored 17 Ligue 1 goals so far this season.

And Ben Arfa – who hopes to play at Euro 2016 with host nation France – has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool.

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The 29-year-old had an enforced six-month sabbatical from football last season after a season-long loan move to Hull City from Newcastle – where he had been frozen out by then-manager Alan Pardew – was terminated by Steve Bruce.

Ben Arfa was prevented from joining Nice early last year by FIFA regulations that stipulate players can be registered for three clubs in a season but only play for two.

Asked about his future, Ben Arfa said: "See me in Ligue 1 next season? Yes, that is possible. Today, everything is possible.

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Hatem Ben Arfa
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"Staying in Nice? It's possible. It's not a political answer, especially as there is the Champions League at the end.

"Join a big club this summer? It's one of the possibilities too.

"I have advisers around me to protect me from all that. I focus in club goals."

Ben Arfa, also linked with Chelsea, was loaned to Hull early in the 2014-15 season after being sidelined by Pardew, but the loan was terminated in January and he quickly left Newcastle by "mutual consent".

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But his proposed move to Nice was blocked by FIFA – and Ben Arfa threatened to retire from football.

"I really hit bottom – I saw black," Ben Arfa told L'Equipe.

"I was in a nightmare. For me, it was over. Then I told myself that I could not accept that. But it was very, very difficult to look up. So yes, you can call it a miracle."

Ben Arfa eventually restarted his football career last summer.