Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987) is a former French football player. He also played for the France national team. He is a midfielder. He is of Algerian heritage. Nasri has been called a player whose "vision and imagination make him an unpredictable opponent".[4] His playing style, ability, and cultural background have led people to compare him to French legend Zinedine Zidane.[5][6]

Samir Nasri

Nasri with France in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Samir Nasri[1]
Date of birth	(1987-06-26) 26 June 1987[2]
Place of birth	Marseille, France
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997	Pennes Mirabeau
1997–2004	Marseille
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2008	Marseille	121	(11)
2008–2011	Arsenal	86	(18)
2011–2017	Manchester City	129	(18)
2016–2017	→ Sevilla (loan)	23	(2)
2017–2018	Antalyaspor	8	(2)
2019	West Ham United	5	(0)
2019–2020	Anderlecht	7	(1)
Total		379	(52)
National team
2002–2003	France U16	16	(8)
2003–2004	France U17	16	(6)
2004–2005	France U18	4	(0)
2005–2006	France U19	10	(5)
2006–2007	France U21	4	(0)
2007–2013	France	41	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Nasri began his football career playing for local youth clubs in his hometown of Marseille. He joined the professional club, Olympique de Marseille at the age of 9. He spent seven years developing in the club's youth academy at La Commanderie, which is the club's training center. Nasri made his professional debut in the 2004–05 season at the age of 17. In the next season, he became a regular starter in the team. He also took part in European competition for the first time in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. In the 2006–07 season, Nasri won the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Young Player of the Year award and was also named in the Team of the Year. He finished his career with Marseille making over 160 appearances. He played in the teams that reached back-to-back Coupe de France finals in 2006 and 2007.

In June 2008, Nasri joined Premier League club Arsenal. He agreed on a four-year contract. He reached fame with the team in his third season where he won the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Fans' Player of the Month award three times. He was alson named in the PFA's Team of the Year. In December 2010, he was named the French Player of the Year for his performances during the year.[7] In August 2011, after three seasons with Arsenal, Nasri joined Manchester City. He agreed on a four-year contract. In his first season with the club, they won the 2011–12 of the Premier League. This was Nasri's first important honour as a player.

Nasri was a French youth international. He has played for his nation at every level for which he was able to. He played on the France under-17 team that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Nasri made his senior team debut in March 2007. It was a friendly match against Austria. Two months later, he scored his first senior international goal in a 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying win over Georgia. Nasri has played for France at two major international tournaments: UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012.