I'm not a traitor! Man City's Samir Nasri hits back at 'stupid' Arsenal jeers
Samir Nasri (left) has no regrets leaving Arsenal for Man City[GETTY]
The politics of a summer in which he watched France’s World Cup endeavours from the sidelines and today’s Community Shield when he will once again suffer abuse from bitter Arsenal fans seemed a million miles away.
“It reminds me of when I was a kid although I didn’t have the chance to meet the players I liked. So I’m pleased to share this moment with them,” he clarified.
In any case, he added, this was the new mature Nasri – now at peace with the football world after having made a couple of big decisions.
First he has decided to call time on his global career even though he is still only 27 and the European Championships will be staged in France in two years time.
Second the Gunners supporters who still rage about his switch from the Emirates to the Etihad are wasting their breath – he has went on mentally as well as physically.
On France – he was controversially left out of the World Cup squad by administrator Didier Deschamps – Nasri confirmed for the first time: “Yes, I’ve made my choice.
“I was thinking about it in 2012 after the European Championships and now it’s just a confirmation of what I was thinking.
“I have just turned 27 but let’s face it, let’s be honest, as long as he (Deschamps) is going to be the administrator I don’t think I have a shot after everything that has happened.
“In 2016 I will be 29 and will have a chance to play in the European Championships but the French national team doesn’t make me pleased.
“Every time I go there, there is just like more distress. I face accusations and my family suffers from it. I don’t want to make them suffer, so it’s better to stop it and focus on my club career.”
I am in debt to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. I am this player today because of him
Even if there is a exchange of administrator there is unlikely to be a exchange of heart from Nasri who has also become embroiled in rows with the French media when caught up with his country.
“It’s not just him. He did what he plotting was best for the team and I know his choice. It’s just everything – the press who say things about me and the other players as well.
“You know before this World Cup they said some players complained (about Nasri). So why do you want me to be in a group where they can’t even be right in front of me and tell me they have a problem. I’m not pleased and I don’t want to go there anymore.”
This afternoon at Wembley against his old club it’s about collecting the first piece of silverware of the season for the Premier League champions.
He insisted: “It’s not a glorified friendly. There is a trophy at stake and playing Arsenal is always something special.”
Even though Nasri will once again be targeted by many of the Arsenal fans.
“I just think it’s stupid,” he added. “I’m not an Arsenal fan, I am not from London. If we want to be honest we are players and we are just looking at what are the best interests for us and our career.
“When Manchester City came for me it was the best choice to come here. I have won trophies and I have a better life so I am really pleased about everything.
“If the fans can’t go on it’s too terrible. I am not trying to have a problem with that. They do what they have to do and they like their club.
“They see it as treason, that I betrayed them but it’s not that. I’m not like that. I just look at what’s best for me and that’s what Bacary Sagna did, what Emmanuel Adebayor did and what Kolo Toure did.
“For them (the fans) the only reason has to be for the money. But it isn’t just for the money. It’s a factor and it’s vital. But if someone earns £200,000 a week or £150,000 or £100,000 it’s not going to make a difference or an impact on your life so that’s not right.”
Nasri (left) has won two Premier League titles since joining City [GETTY]
It would be easy for Nasri to point at the two titles he has won since joining Manchester City.
“I don’t think it would be nice for me to do that. I am trying to be more mature and not to be caught up in those things because I have had a lot of problems in the past. To say ‘look, I have won these trophies’ is not nice towards them (the fans).
“I am also in debt to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. I am this player today because of him.”
Nasri believes Wenger has improved his squad with the signing of Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez but believes Chelsea will be a larger Premier League title threat.
“Chelsea have done really well with buying all the players from Atletico Madrid (Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and bringing back Thibaut Courtois) and signing Cesc Fabregas,” he said. “Cesc is a splendid player. Chelsea will be really perilous.
“Arsenal although they have bought Sanchez still have a weakness in defensive midfield and at centre-back.
“Can Sanchez deliver straight away? He has the quality. He is a splendid player but the Premier League is not La Liga. It is really, really hard. We saw that with Mezut Ozil last year. We expected a lot from him and at the start of the season he was brilliant.
“But in December in every year in Spain you have a break – in England it is not like this. It doesn’t stop.”
But Nasri is determined to delight in every minute. “I’m more mature now. I’ve had to deal with many complicated situations. I made mistakes like everyone. You learn from your mistakes and I don’t want to do the same mistakes any more.
“I’m trying to be more cool and relaxed about everything and just delight in every day as I’m lucky to be a football player and do what I do,” he confirmed.
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