Marseille

More Injury Woe For Marseille’s Hatem Ben Arfa?

Monday’s Marseille training session ended with Hatem Ben Arfa complaining of pains in his troublesome adductor muscle, sparking fears he could miss the early part of 2009.

Dec 30, 2008 6:03:34 AM

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Ligue 1 : Ben Arfa (Marseille)

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Hatem Ben Arfa

When Hatem Ben Arfa signed for Olympique de Marseille this summer from Olympique Lyonnais, head coach Eric Gerets described him as a ‘fragile’ player. This has certainly proven to be the case as the talented winger was restricted to 13 Ligue 1 starts in the first half of the season.

Ben Arfa would appear as a substitute a further four times yet the 21 year-old would surely have featured more prominently had it not been for his persistent adductor problems, which started during his time at the Stade Gerland.

2009 looks to start off on a similar footing with Ben Arfa complaining of pains in his thigh after the first training session following the winter break. “He told me he felt a pain in his adductor after Monday’s training session,” explained Gerets to the club’s official website. “From what he told me in the previous two months he played and never felt any pain.

“He is afraid and would like examination. I hope he can regain his health without any pain so he can train as required.”

Reports in the English media today linked Ben Arfa with a shock move to Chelsea, however, these would appear to have little foundation due to the relatively small mark-up that Marseille would receive given the price they paid for the enigmatic young forward in June.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com