Newcastle exile was hell - Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa says he has come back from hell after returning to form at Nice following a troubled end to his Newcastle United career.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RvbkDmAR2SJuxHnFkRvgbc.jpg)
Nice winger Hatem Ben Arfa has spoken out on his enforced exile to the reserves during his time at Newcastle United, describing the period as "hell".
Following an initial loan spell, Ben Arfa was signed on a permanent deal by Newcastle in January 2011 and quickly became a fans' favourite at St James' Park.
However, his Newcastle career came to a bitter end, a fall-out with then manager Alan Pardew leading to the Frenchman being banished to the reserves.
A loan move to Hull City followed in September 2014, but his spell at the KC Stadium was brief as Ben Arfa fell out of favour with boss Steve Bruce, with Newcastle then terminating his contract in January this year.
Ben Arfa joined up with Nice that month, only to see his contract cancelled as it was ruled he was ineligible to play for the Ligue 1 club having already featured for Newcastle's reserves and the Hull first team in the 2014-15 season.
But Ben Arfa was re-signed by Nice in June and has earned a recall to the France squad for this month's friendlies with Germany and England courtesy of a run of form in which he has scored seven goals in 14 games.
Asked about the final months of his Newcastle career, Ben Arfa told France Football: "It was a very, very difficult period. The worst of my career.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"It was a hell at Newcastle. There, on the first day back in August 2014, I was placed directly with the reserves – a terrible humiliation.
"Weeks passed and I was always with these young 16, 17-year-olds away from the pros. I did not understand. They made it a nightmare. It was full of little cheap shots. And when I believed I had got out by signing in Nice, they were forbidden to hire me.
"I had the feeling of being locked in a dark room without a door, or in an endless tunnel. I saw hell and especially no solution to my problems.
"At that time, I was wrong, I did not see any light. I was a prisoner. I told myself every day to not let go. I tried to convince myself that the light was coming back, I was going to find the right path.
"By signing this summer with Nice, I really felt out of hell. In fact, that's it – I've come back from hell. "
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack