Marseille president Pape Diouf has issued a plea for Lyon midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa to join L'OM.

Diouf cannot believe that France international Ben Arfa is not an automatic first-choice for Les Gones.

"He is extraordinary," Diouf declared.

"If, tomorrow, I had the means of making him come to Marseille, I would not hesitate for a second.

"I cannot comprehend that there is a coach at Lyon who leaves him on the bench."

Lyon are leading Ligue 1 by six points, well on their way to a seventh consecutive Championnat title, while Marseille are three points off the Champions League spots in third.

Ben Arfa, 21, can play as a left winger or attacking midfielder and would come as a direct replacement for 20-year-old Marseille doppleganger Samir Nasri, who is expected to be the subject of transfer bids from the likes of Liverpool and Internazionale in the summer.

Reda Maher / Eurosport