Is this former Newcastle United man the biggest waste of talent we have seen?

Hatem Ben Arfa is not having a good time of it.

The once huge talent has seen his career stall to the point where he has not only been released by Newcastle United and sent away from Hull City, but so badly that he has now left Lille after being told he cannot play for them this season after FIFA regulations ruled he was unable to feature for three clubs in one season.

Ben Arfa has not hit out at Lille, but has moved to deny that he will be retiring from football at the grand old age of 27 – not that anyone would really raise an eyebrow if he did.

Such a talent with the ball at his feet, an off the field partying and a lifestyle that would be more befitting of a Geordie Shore cast member than a Newcastle United player saw the hope that once captured the crowd when the Frenchman received possession faded away to eye rolls and a general lack of patience with the player from the board, their fans and the manager.

A loan spell away from the club failed to reignite his career and now even Ben Arfa himself would admit that he has been the orchestrator of his own issues – and things need to change.

He has claimed that he would ‘move to the north pole’ to play football but quite frankly, he might have trouble finding a club there who would take him.

Newcastle United fans. Is Ben Arfa one of the biggest wastes of talent you’ve seen in recent seasons? Let us know your thoughts below, become a guest blogger or tweet us @LaFootyettes.