Vanishing acts: five players who went missing from their clubs

Hatem Ben Arfa
With an abundance of talent, this ferocious Frenchman was both deadly and majestic on the ball in the Premier League, when he fancied it.

Ben Arfa, formerly of Newcastle United, set pulses racing when he arrived at Hull City on loan after an alleged fall-out with then Toon boss Alan Pardew. This was seen as the last chance for the top-flight enigma, but he messed it up only two months down the line in 2014.

The 27-year-old disappeared, with Tigers boss Steve Bruce declaring he had no idea where his temperamental winger was, following a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea (13/8 to retain title).

“I don’t know if Hatem is in Paris, that’s the truth. As for not playing for Hull City again – at the moment he’s not in the squad,” Bruce admitted.

The missing Frenchman soon said ‘au revoir’ to England as Newcastle terminated his contract.

Mohamed Sissoko
Probably the most outrageous excuse for going missing comes from our next player Sissoko, with the former Liverpool and Valencia midfielder making bizarre claims of his whereabouts, having gone missing his previous Spanish club.

In 2004, he told his then La Liga club that his Mali teammates needed him to play in a friendly against Kenya, even claiming that his nation had eventually won 1-0 and that he had been subbed off shortly after half-time.

Although, blissfully unaware that a simple glance at the fixtures list would catch out the vanishing midfielder, Sissoko’s cover was expectedly blown.

Luka Modric
With the alluring temptation of Real Madrid playing on his mind, then Tottenham playmaker Modric went off the rails in 2012, failing to show for training before refusing to board a plane with Andre-Villas Boas and company for pre-season.

Having gone missing and seemingly throwing his toys out of the pram, the Croatian midfielder was eventually granted a move to Los Blancos, but not before Daniel Levy squeezed £30m out of the La Liga powerhouse.

The Croatian is still plying his trade at the Bernabeu and will hope to recapture the Spanish league crown from rivals Barcelona this term, with his side 13/8 to do so.

Anton Ferdinand
In March 2007, during his time at West Ham United, Ferdinand asked Alan Curbishley for time off to visit his sick grandmother on the Isle of Wight. Little did the Hammers coach know that the defender was instead heading for a session with the lads in South Carolina, USA.

Disappearing for some time to celebrate his 22nd birthday, the centre back was fined two weeks wages and his side lost 4-0 to Charlton Athletic in his absence.