Former agent says Benzema and Ben Arfa would have formed the best duo in football history

Karim Djaziri, the former agent of French striker Karim Benzema, stated that he expected his compatriot Hatem Ben Arfa and Benzema to form the best duo in football history, expressing regret that the partnership between the two players, who were brought together in their early days at the Olympique Lyon academy, did not continue.

Djeziri spoke about the football relationship between the two French stars, born in 1987, during his appearance on the first episode of the "Riolo Club" program, hosted by Daniel Riolo on the French network 'RMC Sport'.

Karim Benzema's former agent explained that Hatem Ben Arfa was initially seen as the standout talent of his generation, having risen to the first team of Olympique Lyon in August 2004 at the age of seventeen, before Benzema joined him five months later.

Djaziri said: "Karim and Hatim were friends. For me, if they had played together, they would have formed the best duo in the history of football. If it had continued at the highest level, Karim and Hatim would have been like magic. Both joined the French national team and amazed everyone during the 2007-2008 season."

Adding a reference to the match between Olympique Lyon and FC Metz on September 15, 2009, which ended with Lyon winning 5-1: "It was obvious. In their first season playing together as starters at the professional level, they played a match against FC Metz where Lyon won 5-1, and Karim scored three goals, Hatem assisted two of them, while Hatem scored a goal from a pass by Karim. It was a fantastic football display."

He continued: "There was a great deal of understanding between them on the pitch, even though their relationship was not as good at one point. I told them that one of you will be Coca-Cola and the other Pepsi, but you have to play together. I don't ask you to be friends off the pitch, but on the pitch I don't need to give you any instructions, the understanding between you is natural."

Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign the duo for Manchester United.

Djaziri revealed that his admiration for the duo was not limited to him, noting that Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary former Manchester United manager, was also interested in bringing the players together in one team.

He said in this regard: "I will always remember that Sir Alex Ferguson told me he wanted the Ben brothers, referring to Benzema and Ben Arfa. He wanted to bring them together because he also believed they would form the best duo in football history."

Djezeri revealed that Ferguson told him this when he came to watch Karim Benzema during the match between Olympique Lyon and Sochaux at the French team's stadium.

Despite the immense talent that both players possessed, each took a different path in their professional careers; Karim Benzema became one of the standout forwards of his generation, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2022, while Hatem Ben Arfa was unable to reach the heights that many expected of him in his early days, which made the partnership that did not last long a source of constant regret for Djaziri.