Football fans have mocked former Premier League star Samir Nasri for his 'fuller figure' as the Frenchman made his first footballing appearance post-retirement. Nasri was appearing for a 'Legends of Marseille' team who were taking on a UNICEF side in a charity game at the Stade Velodrome.
Didier Drogba headed up the Marseille side, which also featured Djibril Cisse and Middlesbrough hero Fabrizio Ravanelli, with the clash raising money for his Didier Drogba Foundation alongside UNICEF. However, it was the appearance of the recently retired Nasri that gained attention on social media, with fans poking fun at the 'fuller' Frenchman. "Samir Nasri is currently playing in a friendly with Marseille. Seems to be enjoying retirement," one fan tweeted. While another added: "Honestly thought that picture of Samir Nasri was fake."
Nasri announced his retirement from professional football last month after spending a year out of the game following an exit from Belgian side Anderlecht. In his heyday, Nasri was considered one of the finest players in the Premier League - especially at his peak at Arsenal. A move to Manchester City provided a Premier League triumph, but after leaving City, Nasri served a doping ban that he revealed played a part in his retirement.
The former France international had previously had spells with Sevilla on loan, then Antalyaspor and West Ham after his departure from City, but left the Belgian side when the coronavirus pandemic brought football in the country to a halt in 2020. In 2018 Nasri was handed an 18-month ban from UEFA after receiving an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic two years earlier in breach of World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
Nasri was banned from football for six months – which later became extended to 18 months following an appeal by UEFA's ethics and disciplinary inspector against the original sanction –following a breach of doping violations from 2016. UEFA stated that the ex-France international was found guilty of using a "prohibited method" in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and UEFA's own anti-doping rules. Drip Doctors, a clinic based in Los Angeles, had posted a photo of Nasri on its social media accounts in December 2016, stating that they had provided him with a drip "to help him keep hydrated and in top health during his busy soccer season."
At the time, Nasri was playing for La Liga side Sevilla while on loan from Man City. UEFA then opened disciplinary proceedings against Nasi in March 2017 and said in a statement earlier this year: “The player Samir Nasri has been found guilty for using a prohibited method in accordance with sub-section M2, par. 2 of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited list.
It had been revealed that Nasri had received 500 millilitre of hydration from Drip Doctors in the form of sterile water that continued micronutrient components while on holiday in December 2016. Nasri said that he felt ill and was vomiting before calling a doctor, his Maryland-based former partner Dr Sarabjit Anand, who gave him an initial diagnosis.
He then received treatment in his hotel room and posted a photo with the organisation's co-founder Jamila Sozahdah that drew great attention on social media. The ban is backdated to 1 July, 2017, despite the fact that Nasri had played since then, making eight appearances for Antalyaspor in between signing in August 2017 and leaving in January this year. For now, the French forward is fully focused on enjoying his retirement and that is quite evident.