Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has said that Hatem Ben Arfa is a great talent and would be a good fit at Barcelona but maintained that he had no insider information about the attacking player’s anticipated transfer. This comes after Barcelona’s interest in the Nice’s attacker following his remarkable performance in Ligue 1 where he scored 17 goals this season.
He stated that the France international had the ability to easily fit in the Spanish League, “I know Hatem the player well. I played a final of the European Under-17 Championship against him and France won 2-1 against Spain,” he said adding that all players with great talent were welcome at Barcelona. “But that doesn’t mean I know something, I know nothing,” Pique concluded.
Pique had first confronted Ben Arfa at the 2004 European Under-17 Championship when the French squad featured budding players such as Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. Pique had scored an equaliser in the game which was won by the French side with Nasri netting the winner. The former Manchester United centre-back said that he clearly remembers Ben Arfa from that encounter.
When asked about Ben Arfa’s possible move to Barcelona, he said that he had no information to offer to L’Equipe Magazine , “I don’t have information. It’s a matter for the president and his staff."
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Ben Arfa, 29, had said earlier this week that he had not decided on his future plans following rumours of a transfer to Spanish giants Barcelona. The former Newcastle attacker mentioned that he preferred not to talk about his future and had not signed a deal with Barcelona yet. “Once the season is finished I’ll be able to talk,” he had said.
Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere had also confirmed that Barcelona were in talks with the club to sign Ben Arfa by the end of the season. L’Equipe had also stated that Barcelona were planning to sign him as a back up to their front trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
In the meantime, Ben Arfa was left disappointed as he was only named on the standby list for Euro 2016. This came as the only surprise in the otherwise predictable squad announcement by France coach Didier Deschamps.
Though dissatisfied, Ben Arfa responded in high spirits thanking the public for their support throughout the season. “Though disappointed not to be in the 23, I still have a blue heart for our country. Whatever happens, I’ll be fully committed and the first supporter of the French Team."
