Hatem Ben Arfa has praised the Nice president's nerve in signing Mario Balotelli from Liverpool in a bold gamble with echoes of the France midfielder's own move to the south-coast club.
After spending six months on the sidelines due to a FIFA ruling following his departure from Newcastle United, Ben Arfa, 29, was reborn at Nice last season, playing some of the best football of his career and earning himself a summer move to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Nice signed Balotelli, 26, on deadline day in the hope the talented but temperamental Italy striker will enjoy a similar renaissance at the Allianz Riviera.