Hatem Ben Arfa
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Ben Arfa: I want to be new Cantona
Published 16:12 06/03/12
By Neil McLeman
Hatem Ben Arfa wants to be the new Eric Cantona of English football now he has finally sorted his head out.
The Frenchman missed most of his first season with Newcastle after suffering a double leg break in October 2010.
But the enfant terrible, who went on strike to leave Marseille for the Geordies, has admitted his career has also been held back by mental insecurities and doubts.
Now, the 24-year-old, who helped turn Newcastle’s fortunes around in the north-east derby on Sunday after coming on as a half-time subsitute, is determined to make up for lost time.
Ben Arfa, whose controversial career echoes that of the great Cantona, insists he has the talent to win France the World Cup and earn him World Player of the Year honours.
“For sure, I would like to conquer England like Cantona did,” he said.
“I see my ambitions the same now as at the start - to become one of the best. Of course I have lost a bit of time in my career, but, in my life, I have the impression I have gained some.
“Really, it is a shame that a career cannot be made between 24 and 40 years old because then I would have more chance.
"But let’s see in three or four years. Then, I see myself at the top, winning for example the World Cup in Brazil or the Ballon D’Or. Because I still have lots of dreams.”
In a frank interview with France Football magazine, Ben Arfa - who left his home in Paris to join Lyon at the age of 15 -admits that parts of his career have been a nightmare.
“I think I lacked, above all, inner calm,” he said. “For a long time, I was not good in my head. Everything was a shambles.
“For 10 years I have heard, ‘With a talent like that, he does not have the right to fail’ - as if I was programmed to succeed at all costs. Since I was 13-14, people have always said to me I should be at the top. That is tiring in a boy’s head.
“I would really like to be the best player in the world. But, for now, I am not there, because I have been unhappy for a long time.
“At the age of 20, I already had a lot of money, but I had been happier when I was 12. I had too many problems to sort out inside myself.
“I had to come a long way.
“If I had had the inner calm that I have now, I am sure that I would not be at the level I am today but, without doubt, higher.
"I was missing the time to sort everything out in his head. I was too unhappy in my life to flower totally on the pitch. I was like an animal who only acted on instinct.
“Clearly, I lacked love. I had always learned to live like that. But there comes a time, you realise you cannot live all your life like that.
"It is still difficult for me to describe exactly what I was suffering from most. But since then I have kept the right distance from my circle. And I feel more at peace.
“I know that I have the image of an arrogant person and only shine when I want, but it is not when I want but when I can!
"Even more than everyone else, I would like to be good all the time. But, for now, it is not the case. I just hope that will come.”
Ben Arfa admitted he also struggled to return after that career-threatening injury 17 months ago.
“When I came back after my injury, I no longer had the desire to play,” he continued. “I found that the football they played was too far away from the one I loved.
"Even if I had dreamed of being a pro since I was little, I did not understand this game. Then, little by little, I refound my love of the game. The pleasure returned.”
The Frenchman admits he was disappointed not to get a call-up to play in last month's friendly against Germany but still believes he can make Laurent Blanc’s squad for the summer.
“To me, the Euros don’t appear impossible,” claimed Ben Arfa. “There are always players who get into the squad at the last minute.
"I know that I have already missed two (tournaments - Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup). But I am still hoping. I need only to push on a bit with Newcastle from here to the end of the season.”
Published 16:12 06/03/12
By Neil McLeman
Hatem Ben Arfa wants to be the new Eric Cantona of English football now he has finally sorted his head out.
The Frenchman missed most of his first season with Newcastle after suffering a double leg break in October 2010.
But the enfant terrible, who went on strike to leave Marseille for the Geordies, has admitted his career has also been held back by mental insecurities and doubts.
Now, the 24-year-old, who helped turn Newcastle’s fortunes around in the north-east derby on Sunday after coming on as a half-time subsitute, is determined to make up for lost time.
Ben Arfa, whose controversial career echoes that of the great Cantona, insists he has the talent to win France the World Cup and earn him World Player of the Year honours.
“For sure, I would like to conquer England like Cantona did,” he said.
“I see my ambitions the same now as at the start - to become one of the best. Of course I have lost a bit of time in my career, but, in my life, I have the impression I have gained some.
“Really, it is a shame that a career cannot be made between 24 and 40 years old because then I would have more chance.
"But let’s see in three or four years. Then, I see myself at the top, winning for example the World Cup in Brazil or the Ballon D’Or. Because I still have lots of dreams.”
In a frank interview with France Football magazine, Ben Arfa - who left his home in Paris to join Lyon at the age of 15 -admits that parts of his career have been a nightmare.
“I think I lacked, above all, inner calm,” he said. “For a long time, I was not good in my head. Everything was a shambles.
“For 10 years I have heard, ‘With a talent like that, he does not have the right to fail’ - as if I was programmed to succeed at all costs. Since I was 13-14, people have always said to me I should be at the top. That is tiring in a boy’s head.
“I would really like to be the best player in the world. But, for now, I am not there, because I have been unhappy for a long time.
“At the age of 20, I already had a lot of money, but I had been happier when I was 12. I had too many problems to sort out inside myself.
“I had to come a long way.
“If I had had the inner calm that I have now, I am sure that I would not be at the level I am today but, without doubt, higher.
"I was missing the time to sort everything out in his head. I was too unhappy in my life to flower totally on the pitch. I was like an animal who only acted on instinct.
“Clearly, I lacked love. I had always learned to live like that. But there comes a time, you realise you cannot live all your life like that.
"It is still difficult for me to describe exactly what I was suffering from most. But since then I have kept the right distance from my circle. And I feel more at peace.
“I know that I have the image of an arrogant person and only shine when I want, but it is not when I want but when I can!
"Even more than everyone else, I would like to be good all the time. But, for now, it is not the case. I just hope that will come.”
Ben Arfa admitted he also struggled to return after that career-threatening injury 17 months ago.
“When I came back after my injury, I no longer had the desire to play,” he continued. “I found that the football they played was too far away from the one I loved.
"Even if I had dreamed of being a pro since I was little, I did not understand this game. Then, little by little, I refound my love of the game. The pleasure returned.”
The Frenchman admits he was disappointed not to get a call-up to play in last month's friendly against Germany but still believes he can make Laurent Blanc’s squad for the summer.
“To me, the Euros don’t appear impossible,” claimed Ben Arfa. “There are always players who get into the squad at the last minute.
"I know that I have already missed two (tournaments - Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup). But I am still hoping. I need only to push on a bit with Newcastle from here to the end of the season.”
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