Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has announced his retirement from professional football. The 34-year-old explained that after a Premier League return with West Ham that was marred by injuries, and a spell in Belgium disrupted by the pandemic, he no longer has any intention to return to French football and no new challenge has worked for him.
Nasri has also blamed his doping ban for ruining his career. In 2016, the ex-France international visited Los Angeles to receive injections which were deemed illegal by UEFA and was given an 18-month ban which tarnished his career.
“It was an injection of vitamins because I was ill. I found it more than unfair, I didn’t take any drug. This stopped me in my tracks, " he said. Following his ban, the player was still at Sevilla but found life difficult even though his manager at the time, Jorge Sampaoli, wanted him on the pitch. After his time with Sevilla ended he had brief spells with West Ham and Anderlecht but now he’s decided to hang up his boots for good.
Nasri had been on holiday in the United States and had visited the Los Angeles clinic to receive the $200 treatment because he was suffering from illness. The Frenchman had been given 500 millilitres of hydration in the form of sterile water containing micronutrient components. The problem was that amount is 10 times greater than what the World Anti-Doping Code and UEFA’s anti-doping regulations allow. After a Spanish Anti-Doping investigation, UEFA initially banned Nasri for six months, but this was extended to an 18-month ban in 2018.
At his best, Nasri was a fine player - an attacking midfielder blessed with real invention - but, partly because his best days came quite some time ago, his name also prompts very different memories. Nasri won two Premier League titles with Manchester City and scored five goals in 41 appearances for France.