Ben Arfa will not return to Marseille
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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FRANCE midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa says he will not play for Olympique Marseille again and told the Ligue 1 champion to let him move to Newcastle United.
A tense standoff has developed between club and player, with Ben Arfa saying he was desperate to join English side Newcastle and Marseille insisting he was staying.
Ben Arfa missed training for two days in a row and was dropped by Marseille coach Didier Deschamps for a Ligue 1 match on Saturday, which the champion lost 2-3.
"I will not go back to the Commanderie (Marseille's training base)," Ben Arfa told French sports daily L'Equipe yesterday. "It's over. I'm ready not to play this season."
Marseille said Newcastle had made no serious offer for the gifted but temperamental 23-year-old. Ben Arfa, however, said that a deal could be done. "Newcastle have committed themselves to give Marseille what they were asking for, which is a loan with an option to buy me," he said.
Disastrous
Marseille has started the defence of its title in disastrous fashion, losing its first two league matches.
The club confirmed on Saturday that Senegal striker Mamadou Niang, last season's top scorer in Ligue 1 with 18 goals, was leaving the side for Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Marseille, which started the defence of its title with a 1-2 home defeat by promoted Caen, conceded three goals in 15 minutes in the second half before reducing the arrears with late goals by Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo from the penalty spot and Ghana forward Andre Ayew.
"The whole Mamadou (Niang) affair has had negative consequences for the entire group," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, who had made clear he wanted Niang to stay, told reporters. "Now we need positive news to reverse the trend."
The good news Deschamps referred to is a deal with Sevilla for Brazil striker Luis Fabiano.
The season's second round of matches featured the two first Ligue 1 games played on synthetic pitches, at Nancy and Lorient. Both sides lost, Nancy falling 0-3 to Stade Rennes and Lorient suffering a 1-2 defeat by Nice.
A tense standoff has developed between club and player, with Ben Arfa saying he was desperate to join English side Newcastle and Marseille insisting he was staying.
Ben Arfa missed training for two days in a row and was dropped by Marseille coach Didier Deschamps for a Ligue 1 match on Saturday, which the champion lost 2-3.
"I will not go back to the Commanderie (Marseille's training base)," Ben Arfa told French sports daily L'Equipe yesterday. "It's over. I'm ready not to play this season."
Marseille said Newcastle had made no serious offer for the gifted but temperamental 23-year-old. Ben Arfa, however, said that a deal could be done. "Newcastle have committed themselves to give Marseille what they were asking for, which is a loan with an option to buy me," he said.
Disastrous
Marseille has started the defence of its title in disastrous fashion, losing its first two league matches.
The club confirmed on Saturday that Senegal striker Mamadou Niang, last season's top scorer in Ligue 1 with 18 goals, was leaving the side for Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Marseille, which started the defence of its title with a 1-2 home defeat by promoted Caen, conceded three goals in 15 minutes in the second half before reducing the arrears with late goals by Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo from the penalty spot and Ghana forward Andre Ayew.
"The whole Mamadou (Niang) affair has had negative consequences for the entire group," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, who had made clear he wanted Niang to stay, told reporters. "Now we need positive news to reverse the trend."
The good news Deschamps referred to is a deal with Sevilla for Brazil striker Luis Fabiano.
The season's second round of matches featured the two first Ligue 1 games played on synthetic pitches, at Nancy and Lorient. Both sides lost, Nancy falling 0-3 to Stade Rennes and Lorient suffering a 1-2 defeat by Nice.
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