Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Hatem Ben Arfa: I haven't signed for Barcelona, future not yet decided

Hatem Ben Arfa has confirmed that he has not yet agreed a deal with Barcelona and said there is a chance he could still be at Nice next season.

Nice confirmed last week that Ben Arfa, 29, is wanted by Barcelona but on Monday the player felt the need to dismiss rumours that he had already travelled to Spain to conclude a transfer.

On Tuesday the former Newcastle attacker took part in a live Facebook chat after being voted by fans on Eurosport.fr as their Ligue 1 Player of the Year.

The France international, who has scored 17 league goals this season, indicated that he would wait until next week to discuss his future.

"I haven't signed for Barca," said Ben Arfa, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

"There are a lot of rumours but I'd prefer not to talk about my future. Barca or another club, that's not the most important thing.

"Once the season is finished I'll be able to talk about my future."

Ben Arfa confirmed that he is hoping to shake off a cold in order to line up for Nice against Guingamp this weekend on the final day of the French league season.

Nice are fourth in the table but if they win at Guingamp and Monaco slip up against Montpellier, Ben Arfa's team would finish third for a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League next season.

Asked if that would be enough for him to stay at Nice for another year, Ben Arfa did not rule out the possibility.

"Whether we qualify for the Champions League or not, my future isn't decided," he said.

"It's still possible that I'll stay at Nice. I don't know where I will be next year."

Ben Arfa's former side Lyon are among the other clubs who want to sign him but Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere feels they still have a very slim chance of holding on to their star player.

"I would say that we have a one in 100 chance of keeping him," Rivere told RMC on Tuesday.

"Hatem's project is firstly a sporting one. Finance is important but it comes second.

"Honestly I know the player and I know what his state of mind is.

"There's a one in 100 chance but when we tried to sign him, everyone mocked us. But we held on and we managed to do it. If you don't attempt the impossible, you'll never get anything.

"So we'll see. It's very likely that Hatem won't be at Nice next season but if we have a small chance, I can assure you that we'll keep going until the end."

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