Hatem Ben Arfa believes he still has time to reach the
same level as Barcelona and Real Madrid stars Lionel
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ben Arfa, 29, is out of contract at Nice this summer
and able to move on a free transfer after an incredible
return to form resulted in him being shortlisted by his
fellow professionals for the Ligue 1 Player of the Year
award, which was won by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
In an interview published in Le Parisien on Friday, Ben
Arfa indicated that Barcelona, Lyon, and Paris Saint-
Germain were among the clubs he could see himself
playing for.
The former Newcastle attacker, who is on standby for
France's Euro 2016 squad, has previously spoken about
his desire to win the Ballon d'Or. And he feels that he
has the ability to rival the two men who have picked
up the prize between them ever year since 2008.
"I'm still a long way from the Cristianos and the
Messis but I still have some years left to catch up with
them," Ben Arfa told Le Parisien. "That's my objective.
"
Ben Arfa has just enjoyed his most successful season,
scoring 17 goals and making six more as Nice finished
fourth in Ligue 1, and he is certain that there is more
to come.
"I'm not yet at my peak," he said. "Everything is
becoming possible for me. In my head and in my legs,
I'm 24 or 25. It's the age at which you reach maturity
in football.
"I've developed and I feel ready to look for something
else. I have new strength."
