The league break of at least three weeks, two league days plus a weekend of national team matches, on account of the coronavirus pandemic, is a necessary nuisance for players, leagues and hobbies, but there is a Real footballer Valladolid who can thank you because It will be an opportunity for you to improve your physical condition. This is Hatem Ben Arfa, the star signing of the club in the winter market, who had spent eight months without training with a team or competing and proved to be far from his best moment in the two games in which he had minutes, although against Athletic he was seen better after almost a month of specific training.
And it is that the francotunecino arrived in the last days of the winter market and entered the list in the second match, against Villarreal. That day he played 13 minutes, tied at one on the scoreboard. His performance was not very encouraging, because if it is true that the opponents showed respect when he had the ball, it is also true that he showed that he was not physically fit to play in the First Division. The following week, the coach, Sergio González, announced that the footballer, along with Brazilian Matheus Fernandes, would carry out specific work to take the necessary shape and rhythm.
The redebut occurred last Sunday. Guardiola's absence, by sanction, gave him the opportunity to enter the list and play the same 13 minutes against the Basque team, with the result of 1-2 and the blanquivioletas overturned in search of a tie. The match ended 1-4, but Ben Arfa showed better condition, he wanted the ball more, but being so far from the goal, he entered the theoretical position of midfielder, it hurt him.
Saying that the image improved, however, does not mean that his physical condition was ideal, quite the contrary. He was still slow and with a few extra kilos. For this reason, this stoppage due to the coronavirus can be useful for the francotunencino if he takes advantage of these three weeks to shore up his physical state with the routines that have been ordered from the club.