Hatem Ben Arfa’s silence deepens as former prodigy lives incognito in Paris | OneFootball

Hatem Ben Arfa, 38, has slipped from view nearly four years after his last professional appearance, with no retirement announcement. According to L'Équipe, the former prodigy now keeps a low profile in Paris and has devoted time to padel.

His final outing came in April 2022, a 12-minute cameo in Lille’s 0-0 draw with Bordeaux. Since then he has shunned the spotlight and the football world.

There was no farewell, no dramatic statement. Friends say he became discreet, then unreachable, leaving calls and texts unanswered. His lawyer of 15 years, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, has wondered how someone so exposed could return to anonymity.

Last summer, a move into punditry was floated when Ligue 1+ sounded him out, but he politely declined. Without direct contact, old friends have resorted to sending messages into the void.

Ricardo Faty said he holds dozens of Ben Arfa’s numbers because they change every six months. Despite fallouts, he wants him to know he remains like a brother who can always count on him.

A long read online seeks to unpack the enduring mystery, tracing his precocious rise, career turbulence and current low-key routine.

Source: L'Équipe