Hatem Ben Arfa's best friend fears Frenchman's PSG exile is taking its toll: 'He suffers in silence, it takes over him and he does not say anything'

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Hatem Ben Arfa has not played a game for PSG since April 5 and his best friend fears the winger's exile is taking its toll mentally. 

Sylvian Idanger is close with the former Newcastle man and played youth football with him at Lyon.

He fears the lack of game time is seriously affecting Ben Arfa and is concerned about his friend.

Hatem Ben Arfa is suffering in silence at PSG according to his best friend Sylvian Idanger

The 30-year-old (centre) has not started a game for the French club since April 5

Idanger told L'Equipe: ‘I was afraid that old demons had returned and that he breaks down. I am worried all the time.

‘What upsets me the most in this difficult period, is when we are the only two at the restaurant and he does not tell me that it is not OK, whereas I know, I can sense that he is not well.'

He added: 'He suffers in silence, it takes over him and he does not say anything about himself.

Ben Arfa has only had nine starts in total for the club since joining from Nice in 2016

‘In fact, Hatem, is one of the favourites in the dressing room, but the players don’t want to say it.’ 

Ben Arfa was demoted to the reserve team in September and threatened legal action on the club. His lawyer Jean-Jacques Bertrand previously said: 'Legally, I think the club is violating the Professional Football Charter.'

He has now returned to train with the first team but having started just nine matches since moving from Nice in 2016, it could be argued that Ben Arfa's frustrations are not without foundation. 

It seems his departure in the next transfer window is inevitable as the technically gifted forward looks to nail down regular games and revive his ailing career.

Ben Arfa could now be looking at his options ahead of the January transfer window