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Defender talks about Newcastle outcast in same breath as Messi and Ronaldo

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Image for Defender talks about Newcastle outcast in same breath as Messi and Ronaldo

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has stated that former Newcastle attacker Hatem Ben Arfa is the hardest opponent that he has ever played again.

The France international was quizzed about the toughest players to try and stop while in possession, given that he has played against both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past.

However, the former Paris Saint-Germain centre-half has stated that Ben Arfa was the player that he dreaded facing most.

“I have faced Messi, I have faced Cristiano Ronaldo – maybe they were not in their best form against me – but I have always said that the player who impressed me the most was Hatem Ben Arfa at Lyon,” Sakho is quoted as saying by The Chronicle.

“What he does on the pitch, it is exceptional.”

Ben Arfa split opinions during his time at St James’ Park, with some sublime individual goals and skill during his time on Tyneside.

However, a fallout with manager Alan Pardew meant that the French winger was offloaded, with Newcastle looking back now and wishing they still had a player of his ability.

Ben Arfa has starred for modest Ligue 1 side Nice this season and is being tipped as a dark horse for a place in France’s Euro 2016 squad this summer.

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