Hatem Ben Arfa reveals he ‘felt humiliated’ by Newcastle during first-team exile

Hatem Ben Arfa has spoken out on his time at Newcastle United and claimed he was 'humiliated' by the club. 

The France international was dropped from the first-team to the reserves and he eventually had his contract terminated in January 2015. 

Since then the attacking midfielder has gone on to shine for Nice though and he scored 18 goals last season. 

Ben Arfa is now being linked with a summer move to Barcelona and he admits it is a long way from his ill-fated time at St James' Park. 

"In 2014, Newcastle sent me to the reserves for two months," Ben Arfa told Journal du Dimanche. 

"I was called up normally for training, I would get changed in the senior squad dressing room, but then I would work with the youngsters on some remote pitch; you had to walk a long time to get there. 

"The club also invented a story that I had put on weight to harm me when I had not put on weight. I felt very humiliated, but this episode taught me patience. 

"Six months later, when my contract with Nice was not approved, I had a desire to throw the towel in.  
"But that feeling only lasted for ten minutes, because I had not yet accomplished everything that I wanted. It was impossible for me to finish like that."