Hatem BEN ARFA

After a never-ending soap opera which lasted the entire Summer transfer window in 2018, Stade Rennais finally secured the signing of Hatem Ben Arfa, who was out of contract. He had already recruited by the new Rennes President Létang, when Létang was working at Paris Saint Germain in 2016. The French international joined the Red and Blacks on the basis of a one-year contract, which had the possibility of a one-year extension on 2nd September 2018. It was a prestigious signing for Stade Rennais, and he was seen as the man who would help Rennes to acquit themselves well on the European stage, and to assist them in reaching Europe via the league. On his debut, he even scored the winner against Jablonec in the Europa League from the penalty spot. After that Hatem blew hot and cold, alternating between outstanding performances, and others which were – more often than not- anything but. Ben Arfa struggled to get the fans onside. They tended to remember his questionable attitude on the pitch more than his ball skills. He was of course one of the main architects in Rennes’ Europa League run, with his outstanding display in the return leg in Seville against Real Betis being the highlight. He scored 9 goals, and was unlucky to hit the woodwork no fewer than 7 times. Ben Arfa played in the French Cup Final, which Rennes won against his old club, Paris Saint Germain. On the 12th May 2019, he made a public statement which was disparaging about his Manager and his team-mates after the derby against Guingamp. As a result, he was dropped for the two remaining games of the season, and left the club in June 2019.