Samir Nasri: Six clubs wanted me this summer (honest!)

Matt Stead

Samir Nasri insists that six clubs sought his signature upon his departure from Manchester City this summer.

Nasri left City to little fanfare in August, the midfielder having made just nine appearances for the club throughout Pep Guardiola’s tenure.

The 30-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by the Spaniard, and joined Antalyaspor on a reported free transfer.

But the Frenchman is insistent that he had the pick of six clubs, including AC Milan and two from his homeland.

“I did 13 years at the highest level, I also needed a change, to leave for elsewhere – I have never seen a country with so much passion,” he said of Turkey.

“We had a discussion, but it was rather brief, with Marseille, with Lyon, with AC Milan, and then there were Besiktas, Galatasaray and Antalya.

“The choice was made quite naturally – the president has a very ambitious project, and the fact that Jeremy [Menez, also a French man] is there, it also reassured me.

“He practically played the role of agent and was very insistent.”