Samir Nasri’s Neutral Stance in the Champions League Final
Samir Nasri, a former professional footballer who played for several top clubs, has made it clear that he will remain neutral during the upcoming Champions League final. Despite his history with Arsenal and the recent abuse he faced from PSG fans, Nasri has chosen not to attend the match in Budapest this weekend.
Nasri, who is now working as a pundit on French television, has been involved in football for many years. He played for Marseille, Arsenal, Manchester City, Sevilla, Antalyaspor, West Ham, and Anderlecht throughout his career. The 38-year-old retired from playing in 2020 after a long and varied career.
Although he was expected to be at the Champions League final, Nasri will instead be working on a show in Paris for Canal+. Some speculated that this decision was due to the abuse he received from PSG fans during their semi-final against Bayern Munich. However, Nasri clarified that while he did face criticism from PSG supporters, it was not the main reason for his absence.
“Even though I think they had other things to do, like celebrating qualifying for the final,” Nasri said, reflecting on the abuse he received. “But it’s part of the game as a former Marseille player to get insulted by Parisian fans.”
Nasri believes that having former players from both clubs on the set would provide a more engaging commentary than his own neutral perspective. He mentioned that Robert Pires, a die-hard Arsenal fan, and David Ginola, a die-hard PSG fan, would be better choices for the show.
“I don’t have an extraordinary relationship with its fans,” Nasri said about Arsenal. “Arsenal is also my former club, but I don’t have an extraordinary relationship with its fans.”
Nasri’s time at Arsenal was marked by both success and controversy. He played 125 times for the club from 2008 to 2011 but never won a trophy. His move to Manchester City, where he won two Premier League titles, left a sour taste in the mouths of some Arsenal fans. His return to the Premier League with West Ham in 2019 did little to mend the relationship.
The abuse from PSG fans earlier this month was particularly hurtful for Nasri, especially when it targeted his family. “What bothered me was that they insulted my mother,” he said. “Even though, well, you’ve qualified for the final, you celebrate with your players!”
Despite the negative experiences, Nasri has defended his decision to leave Arsenal for Manchester City. He explained that he felt the move was necessary for his career growth. “Manchester City were a better team – that’s why I went there. It was my ambition, not because of the money,” he said in a 2016 interview.
Nasri also reflected on his time at Arsenal, where he had a strong bond with the fans. “I had so much love for this club because the fans were amazing towards me,” he said. “But then, after when I saw all of that [Arsenal fans’ anger towards him], I became a little hateful because I was like ‘Come on, why are they doing this? I haven’t done anything wrong.’”
