5 players who are lucky to be at Paris Saint-Germain

#4 Hatem Ben Arfa

The great left foot that never made it

It has been close to a year since Hatem Ben Arfa last played for PSG, though the 30-year-old continues to enjoy the trappings associated with being at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Known as a sprightly yet tempestuous attacker, it was only two years ago he was enjoying a staggering renaissance with Nice. At the Allianz Riviera, he looked back to his best, dribbling by defenders as if they weren’t there and showing the kind of blistering individual talent that has seen him touted as a star while a youngster at Lyon.

The rebirth was short lived. Snubbed for France’s Euro 2016 squad, he took the plunge in signing for PSG but never seemed to be at the forefront of Unai Emery’s plans and has not scored a single league goal for them.

Now he is content to while away his time training with the first team. Indeed, it seemed that he might spend the season with the reserves, though after his agent threatened legal action against the club, head coach Emery quickly backed down.

Emery, though, has not selected France’s Young Player of the Year in 2008 for any of his squads this season, with the former Newcastle man not even making the bench.

It is a situation that does not seem to perturb Ben Arfa, who is out of contract at the end of the season and appears content to worry about his future in June.

No doubt there is formidable talent in his boots, but it is being completely squandered in the French capital.