19th August 2011
By Jeremy Cross
SAMIR NASRI was last night closing in on a £22m move to Manchester City amid claims he wanted to join bitter rivals Manchester United instead!
The Arsenal ace (left) was understood to be undergoing a medical in Manchester having agreed a five-year-deal at City worth £160,000 a week.
But reports in France have suggested Nasri was holding out for a move elsewhere, with United,
Barcelona and Real Madrid his preferred choices.
Sources in his homeland claim the striker told friends he wanted to join one of Europe’s giants, but chose City
when both Spanish clubs showed no interest and the Gunners refused to sell him to United.
The claims will cast doubts over Nasri’s motives for joining the billionaire big spenders as he gets set to become one of the highest-paid stars in the top fllight.
But this won’t bother boss Roberto Mancini, who has been hounding his bosses for weeks to push through a deal to
land the French star.
Nasri will more than double the wages he was earning at the Gunners and take Mancini’s summer spending
crashing through the £70m barrier.
His arrival will follow that of record £38m signing Sergio Aguero and confirm City’s status as genuine title contenders
this season.
Nasri’s departure from the Emirates will be the second major blow for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger this week
following the sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barca.
But he has been powerless to stop Nasri leaving after the player made it clear he would not sign a new deal.
Nasri will become the second Gunner to join City this summer following Gael Clichy’s decision to join Mancini’s
men in a £7m deal.
Provided the loose ends are tied up within the next 24 hours then Nasri could make his debut in Sunday’s clash at Bolton, where Aguero has been told to expect a hostile reception.
The new superstar will be hoping for a happier outcome than on his last visit to the Reebok with Atletico Madrid in 2008, when he was sent off just 12 minutes after going on as a substitute.
The Argentine striker was shown a straight red card for spitting at Matt Taylor in the UEFA Cup last 16 tie and was
banned for two games.
Trotters fans have vowed to abuse Aguero but he said: “I remember the incident. I was spitting in the direction
of the player but not to the player. However, the officials thought that and suspended me.
“I don’t know what the reception will be like, but as long as our fans welcome me, I’ll be happy.”
Aguero looks set to make his full debut following his stunning cameo against Swansea
on Monday night which included two goals and an assist.
But it remains to be seen if wantaway Carlos Tevez will be included in
Mancini’s squad.
But reports in France have suggested Nasri was holding out for a move elsewhere, with United,
Barcelona and Real Madrid his preferred choices.
Sources in his homeland claim the striker told friends he wanted to join one of Europe’s giants, but chose City
when both Spanish clubs showed no interest and the Gunners refused to sell him to United.
The claims will cast doubts over Nasri’s motives for joining the billionaire big spenders as he gets set to become one of the highest-paid stars in the top fllight.
But this won’t bother boss Roberto Mancini, who has been hounding his bosses for weeks to push through a deal to
land the French star.
Nasri will more than double the wages he was earning at the Gunners and take Mancini’s summer spending
crashing through the £70m barrier.
His arrival will follow that of record £38m signing Sergio Aguero and confirm City’s status as genuine title contenders
this season.
Nasri’s departure from the Emirates will be the second major blow for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger this week
following the sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barca.
But he has been powerless to stop Nasri leaving after the player made it clear he would not sign a new deal.
Nasri will become the second Gunner to join City this summer following Gael Clichy’s decision to join Mancini’s
men in a £7m deal.
Provided the loose ends are tied up within the next 24 hours then Nasri could make his debut in Sunday’s clash at Bolton, where Aguero has been told to expect a hostile reception.
The new superstar will be hoping for a happier outcome than on his last visit to the Reebok with Atletico Madrid in 2008, when he was sent off just 12 minutes after going on as a substitute.
The Argentine striker was shown a straight red card for spitting at Matt Taylor in the UEFA Cup last 16 tie and was
banned for two games.
Trotters fans have vowed to abuse Aguero but he said: “I remember the incident. I was spitting in the direction
of the player but not to the player. However, the officials thought that and suspended me.
“I don’t know what the reception will be like, but as long as our fans welcome me, I’ll be happy.”
Aguero looks set to make his full debut following his stunning cameo against Swansea
on Monday night which included two goals and an assist.
But it remains to be seen if wantaway Carlos Tevez will be included in
Mancini’s squad.
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