There’s a Line Outside Lyon Again

By: Daryl | October 27th, 2007

Ben Arfa rumours Must be weird being a Lyon fan. On one hand: prolonged and unprecedented success. OL have been Ligue 1 champions for the last six seasons, dominating 21st Century French footy. On the other hand: more glamorous (or at least richer) European clubs are continually swooping in and taking the club’s star players. Sure, they leave big piles of cash in exchange, but if you’re a Lyon fan you’d rather hold on to your top players and make a decent crack at the Champions League and/or enjoy watching said players wearing your team’s colours. Losing the occasional player is fine, maybe inevitable (even Arsenal have lost the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry to predators) but to lose players so regularly must make supporting Lyon an odd experience. And now, with the club once again sitting top of the French football pile, it’s happening all over again with OL talent Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa (pictured) being stalked by Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively.

In recent years Lyon fans have been forced to bid fare thee well to the likes of Florent Malouda, Caçapa, Eric Abidal, Tiago, Mahamdou Diarra, Michael Essien (most famously), Edmilson, Steed Malbranque and others. Essien’s departure was the most famous and strung out affair, with Lyon initially saying “non” to Chelsea’s advances, but Abramovich writing bigger and bigger cheques until he got his man. Arguably, that was where Lyon lost the battle to avoid the “selling club” tag.

It’s incredible that Lyon can keep winning championships, with the team being so regularly stripped of its big players. Maybe that’s due to certain players like captain (and free kick genius) Juninho Pernambucano staying put, or maybe it’s due to a Ligue 1-wide talent drain (eg Frank Ribery leaving Marseille for Bayern Munich this summer.)

But the worrying thing about the interest in Benzema and Ben Arfa is that they’re both so young. Benzema is just 19, Ben Arfa 20. Both undoubtedly have talent, and both have already played and scored for the French national team. They’re probably the future of French football, and for players like that Lyon is the best place they can be. Fairly regular football in a comfortable environment with a big club, where they’ll mature into genuine superstars in due course. So shouldn’t the giant clubs back off for at least a couple of years and let these young players mature with Lyon in Ligue 1 before dangling massive paychecks in front of their faces? It’s one thing to cherrypick the best talent, but to pluck it from the vine before it’s ripe is just plain greedy.

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Category: French Ligue 1

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lefutur

Its in Ben Arfa and Benzema's best interests to stay together at the same club since they have such a special chemistry together and ability to play off of one another. Its almost a given that these two will be the future of the French national team for years to come and its obvious that they both play better when the other is also on the field. To split them up would be a big shame but also since after today's brace by Ben Arfa, he is sure to get much more starts with Lyon.

Benzema seems to be already quite mature and wants to stay at Lyon for a while and continue his development in his home environment. Ben Arfa has been a bit frustrated with his playing time but after today i think that will change.

What would be really and truly refreshing would be if these two took a stand for French football and refused to leave the league until either Lyon wins a CL or until they have both reached maturity. A statement from such a talented French duo would be bold and could perhaps signal a new era for the rest of the league.
Abby

Wenger can probably take credit for Henry, having started his at Monaco...
Ryan Jones

I believe Benzema and Ben Arfa will leave. Lyon is pretty much a development club for players so they can move on to more proven European giants. It's sad to see because Lyon is indeed a great club, however, it's not just happening with Lyon, look at Marseille for example losing Ribery even though they qualified for the Champions league. Remember this, money runs the world, especailly in football.
Magnusson

Inara, I didn't think you didn't like Wenger. I thought you would be mesmerized by their style of play.
But you have a point, they should develop their own players. But he started stealing kids a long time ago (Anelka, Aliadiere, Flamini....)
Greg

Lyon experience in a microcosmic way what Portuguese clubs are experiencing on a macrocosmic scale, talent breeding then poaching.
Laurie

I'm also hoping that both Ben Arfa and Benzema will take into account their synergy on the field. I had the privilege of watching them play together for Lyon when I was in France last month and their interaction on the field gave me goosebumps. They scored four goals between them. (Okay, granted, it was against lowly Metz. But still.)

I'm hoping they realize that together they will eventually accomplish more than either could accomplish apart. (And this is particularly true for Ben Arfa, who I think is the more likely to actually leave.)
Laurie

Well, put, Daryl! I don't care if Madrid and Arsenal are richer than God. Hands off our French boys!
Magnusson

Benzema and Benarfa ain't going anywhere. It's one thing to leave the Ligue 1 but for the both of them, not only is Lyon their childhood club, it's also their hometown. Lyon are lucky on this one. Plus Benzema's parents as Samir Nasri's parents have been smart enough so far not to folow the money. I don't see these two kids leaving now that they're starting to be veterans in their club.
Now of course if Arsenal comes with a big ass check and the tradition of nurturing young talent, the kids could be tempted (I'm thinking about benzema since Wenger said on french Tv how much he was in love with him) but Aulas can rtain players if he wants to.