Hatem Ben Arfa Staying At Newcastle After Qatar Links Are Denied

Frenchman could see out the rest of his Tyneside contract?

Hatem Ben Arfa won't be leaving Newcastle any time soon after his agent clarified his immediate future by denying the French playmaker was poised for a move to the Middle East. We all woke to reports on Monday claiming Ben Arfa was poised to fly the Tyneside coop and land in Qatar with the ambitious Lekhwiya SC set to compete with Stars League rival Al Sadd for his signature. However, it was confirmed by the 27-year-old's agent, Michel Ouazine, that he won't be plying his trade in the host nation for the 2022 World Cup and rumours suggesting otherwise held zero substance. "That's false. Hatem has a year left on his contract at Newcastle, and he intends to continue playing in Europe," Ouazine told L'Equipe. It was certainly tough to digest the news that Ben Arfa would even consider, and we mean no disrespect to Qatar, putting himself on the football scrapheap at just 27 and we're delighted that he's decided against going down that route. We're eager to see the ex-Lyon and Marseille attacker patch up his relationship with Alan Pardew and showcase exactly why he's considered the most gifted and creative player on the books at St James' Park. Regaining the trust of Pardew and his team-mates, after they became disillusioned with his form, fitness and attitude towards the end of last season, is of paramount importance this summer especially with his contract set to expire next year.
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Content writer, blogger, occasional journalist and lifetime inhabitant of the post-LOST island of grief.