After being ‘expelled’ from the Lille squad earlier this week, Hatem Ben Arfa has now launched a furious attack on key club officials.
The Frenchman was involved in a row with club manager Jocelyn Gourvennec.
The incident occurred during Lille’s 0-0 draw with Bordeaux earlier this month. RMC Sport reported that he told his manager: “We play too low here. We don’t play like a team that claims a place in the European Cup. It’s not Guingamp here!”
Read more: Hatem Ben Arfa expelled from Lille squad after furious row
Gourvennec formerly managed Guingamp on two occasions. He won the Coupe de France during his first spell. Therefore, Ben Arfa’s comments appeared to have a personal angle to them.
Since the news broke, further developments have occurred. RMC now report that Lille are looking to terminate Ben Arfa’s contract, which is due to expire at the end of the season. They have also reportedly suspended the player, and he looks to have played his last game for the club.
Gourvennec responds to Ben Arfa comments
In his pre-match press conference before Lille’s visit to Angers in Ligue 1 on Sunday, Gourvennec publicly responded to Ben Arfa’s comments.
He explained: “There can be problems in all trades. When you are in a trade where there can be twisted blows, things that are not very appreciable … it’s not because there are twisted people that you have to be twisted!”
“We do some things well, others less [well],” he continued. “We win games or not, we play one way or another; that’s another thing. But ethics are important to me,
“It’s been 34 years that I am in the world of football, and I had never seen that. I have no lesson to give, but I know what I want, what I do not want, and I advance like that.”
Ben Arfa launches another attack at Lille on social media
Ben Arfa hasn’t stopped himself from starting yet another attack on Gourvennec and Lille officials despite his apparent suspension from club duties.
Taking to his official Instagram account, he claimed (translation via RMC): “Are you talking about twisted? While you and your president [Olivier Letang] are the most twisted.
“Your problem is incompetence. #allezlelosc. We are not playing against relegation.”
The Frenchman then ended his post with a trash can emoji. If he leaves Lille – as is looking likely – Ben Arfa will be on the lookout for his eighth club since departing Newcastle in 2014.
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