The last few years of his career have not gone to plan
Former Arsenal, Manchester City and West Ham midfielder Samir Nasri has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.
Speaking to French media outlet Le Journal du Dimanche, the midfielder said that his main reason for calling time on his playing career was the 18-month doping ban he received in 2018 – something he still feels was unjust and “stopped him in his tracks.”
Speaking to RMC Sport, he described the episode as “more than unfair,” claiming the banned substance he took was simply “an injection of vitamins because I was ill.”
After returning from the suspension, he had a short spell at West Ham United, reuniting with manager Manuel Pellegrini, who had coached Man City to a Premier League title with Nasri in the team five years prior.
But his time in east London was blighted by repeated injuries. A new dawn appeared at Anderlecht, where former City teammate Vincent Kompany had taken over as manager, but the Covid-19 pandemic cut the domestic season short, preventing Nasri from re-discovering any sort of form.
Nasri’s most successful season came in 2010-11, when he and Cesc Fabregas dazzled midfields with their mazy dribbles and delicate interplay, with Nasri bagging 15 goals in all competitions.
But it is this goal, against FC Porto, in 09-10, that will be remembered most fondly.
Samir Nasri has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.
Let’s remember him at his best, tying Porto defenders in knots 🪄 pic.twitter.com/PVkP4xO7Ra
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) September 26, 2021
Nasri retires with two Premier League titles and two domestic cups to his name, alongside 41 France caps. But his career will always be tainted by a series of unfortunate events that led to a premature retirement.
As the kids say, the streets won’t forget.
