Newcastle United new boy Hatem Ben Arfa has said that he is not feeling bad about forcing Olympique Marseille because he badly wanted to join Newcastle United. Known as a mercurial individual, Ben Arfa went on strike from les Phoceens after they had turned down an approach from the Premier League club. Additionally, he threatened to quit football if the move didn’t take place.
Having moved from Olympique Lyonnais to OM in a not dissimilar manner two years previously, Ben Arfa doesn’t see a problem with the way he handled himself.
“At no time did I figure I had done something stupid,” Ben Arfa stated.
“The decision to possibly spend a year without playing, I took myself. I have a hard head, you know.”
The media have speculated that the player’s father has had an influence over his actions in recent days, but that’s been rejected by the winger.
“I’m not a kid, I’m 23 years old. The decisions come from me and only me. I am not manipulated by anyone,” Ben Arfa said.
It is believed that it is partly because of this transfer drama that Laurent Blanc has overlooked the player regularly considered French football’s enfant terrible for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers.