Samir Nasri

1.1. Childhood and Youth Football

While growing up in La Gavotte Peyret, Nasri frequently played football on the streets, where he honed many of his early skills. Recognizing his remarkable talent, his parents enrolled him in a local club in his hometown. Nasri spent one year playing with this club before moving to Pennes Mirabeau in nearby Mirabeau at the age of seven. It was during his time with Pennes that Nasri was discovered by Marseille scout Freddy Assolen, who had been alerted to the player's talent through local word of mouth. Assolen noted Nasri's comprehensive skill set even at a young age, stating he "could do everything with the ball: stepovers, dribbling, shooting with the right or the left. In fact, I wasn't even sure whether he was left or right-footed." After personally observing Nasri's skills, Assolen invited him to travel to Italy with a group of other young players to participate in a youth tournament, where they competed against the youth academies of prominent clubs like Milan and Juventus. Nasri made a strong impression at the tournament, prompting a Milan scout to jokingly tell Assolen that Nasri "stays here, you leave him." Following their return to France, Marseille officials arranged a meeting with Nasri's father, and it was agreed that Nasri would join the club's academy at the age of nine.

Upon entering the Marseille youth academy, Nasri quickly distinguished himself. His playing style began to develop significantly after he moved to Bastide, where the club's youth players resided. In 2007, Nasri acknowledged that the move to Bastide greatly aided his development, stating, "That's where I really started to progress. Training was different and the facilities are beautiful, all of which helps you work well." His rapid progress led to him becoming an essential part of every youth team he played for, winning several trophies, including the Championnat de Provence, Coupe de Provence, and the Ligue de la Méditerranée. During the latter part of the 2003-04 campaign, at 16 years old, Nasri was promoted to the club's reserve team, which competed in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth tier of French football. He primarily featured as a substitute in a few matches during this period, as the reserve team struggled, finishing 16th and being relegated to the Championnat de France amateur 2.

2.1. Olympique de Marseille

Ahead of the 2004-05 season, Nasri garnered interest from several prominent English clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle United. To mitigate speculation and ensure the club received compensation for his development, Marseille officials, led by president Pape Diouf and manager José Anigo, offered Nasri a three-year professional contract, which he signed on 13 August 2004. This contract led to his promotion to the senior team by Anigo, where he was assigned the number 22 shirt. He started the season with the reserve team, making four appearances before being called up to the senior squad in September 2004.

Nasri made his professional debut on 12 September 2004, coming on as a substitute for Bruno Cheyrou in a 2-0 league defeat to Sochaux. His first professional start came on 17 October, playing the full match in a 1-1 draw against Saint-Étienne. Nasri became a frequent presence in the team under both Anigo and later Philippe Troussier. His first professional goal was scored on 11 January 2005, in a 2-1 away victory over Lille. He concluded his rookie season with 25 total appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists.

The 2005-06 season saw Marseille strengthen with the arrivals of attackers Franck Ribéry and Djibril Cissé. Nasri was given a more prominent role by new manager Jean Fernandez, forming effective partnerships with Ribéry, Cissé, and lead striker Mamadou Niang. He featured in 49 total matches, including appearances in both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Nasri made his European debut on 16 July 2005, in the first round of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup against Swiss club Young Boys. Marseille won the first leg 3-2, and in the second leg, Nasri scored his first European goal in a 2-1 win. Marseille went on to win the competition by defeating Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña 5-3 on aggregate. In the league, Nasri played in 30 matches, 25 of them as a starter, and scored his only league goal of the season on 29 April 2007, in a 4-2 victory over Sochaux. In the Coupe de France, Nasri appeared in five matches as Marseille reached the final, where they faced Le Classique rivals Paris Saint-Germain. Nasri came on as a substitute in the match, which Marseille lost 2-1. Following the season, Nasri signed a two-year contract extension with the club, committing until 2009.

Nasri began the 2006-07 season under Albert Emon, his fourth manager in three years. Despite the frequent changes, Marseille's growing popularity fueled speculation that the club might finally win its first league title since the 1991-92 season. Nasri started the season strong, scoring the second goal in the team's 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in September 2006. On 29 April 2007, he scored in Marseille's 4-2 victory against Sochaux. Marseille was set to face the same club in the 2007 Coupe de France Final just days later and were considered strong favorites due to their recent win. However, Sochaux secured an upset victory, defeating Marseille 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 following extra time. On the final match day of the season, Nasri converted the only goal in a 1-0 win over Sedan. This victory secured 2nd place for Marseille, marking the club's best finish since finishing runner-up to Bordeaux in the 1998-99 season. Nasri finished the season with a career-high 50 appearances, 37 of them in the league. For his performances, he received the UNFP Young Player of the Year award and was named to the Team of the Year. Nasri was also voted the Club Player of the Year by supporters, garnering 62% of the votes, ahead of players like Ribéry and Niang.

Similar to his previous three years at Marseille, Nasri began the 2007-08 season under new management, with the club now led by Belgian coach Eric Gerets. With Ribéry's departure to Bayern Munich, Gerets positioned Nasri as the central figure of the attack, and Nasri responded with his best season at the club. He made 42 total appearances, scoring a career-high six goals and assisting a career-high 15 goals. Nasri formed strong partnerships in midfield with winger Mathieu Valbuena and midfielders Lorik Cana and Benoît Cheyrou, contributing to Marseille boasting the third-best attack in the league, behind champions Lyon and Bordeaux. Initially, Nasri struggled at the start of the campaign due to a severely sprained ankle sustained in pre-season, failing to score or assist in the team's first eight league matches. However, on 24 November 2007, he assisted two goals in a 2-0 victory over Metz. Nasri concluded the fall season by assisting the equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Bordeaux and making the final pass for the match-winning goal against Le Mans.

Following the winter break, Nasri began to find his goal-scoring touch. In late January, he scored in back-to-back matches against Nancy and Caen. In European competition, Nasri participated in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, though he made limited impact in the four group stage matches he appeared in. He missed the club's upset victory over Liverpool at Anfield due to a bout of meningitis. Marseille ultimately finished third in their group, qualifying for the UEFA Cup round of 32. The club was defeated in the round of 16 by Zenit Saint Petersburg despite holding a 3-1 lead after the first leg, with Nasri assisting two of those goals. On 16 March 2008, Nasri scored in a 3-3 draw with Lens. A month later, he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Metz. In his final match with Marseille, against Strasbourg, Nasri scored a goal and assisted another in a 4-3 victory. Marseille concluded the league campaign in third place, which qualified them for the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season. On 8 May 2008, amidst transfer speculation, Nasri signed a three-year contract extension with the club until 2012, a move later understood to be a protocol allowing Marseille to command a higher transfer fee for the player.

2.2. Arsenal

One week after signing his contract extension with Marseille, Nasri was heavily linked with a move to Premier League club Arsenal. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger had been closely monitoring Nasri since his impressive performances at the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. It was later revealed that the contract extension with Marseille was a strategic measure to ensure the French club received a higher transfer fee for the player, with Marseille reportedly seeking 14.00 M GBP. Ahead of UEFA Euro 2008, both Nasri's agent and Wenger confirmed that offers had been made, and a move to the English club was imminent. The transfer was finalized on 11 July 2008, with Nasri agreeing to a four-year contract. While the exact transfer fee was undisclosed, it was widely reported to be in the region of 12.00 M GBP. Upon joining Arsenal, Nasri cited Wenger as a primary reason for his decision, stating, "The fact that Arsène Wenger gives great opportunities to young players is very important for me. Arsène has a great reputation and he is one of the best managers in the world." Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi also praised Nasri's dedication, stating, "Samir is a student of football - he lives for the game. He loves training and watches game after game on TV. He uses things he has seen to help correct mistakes in his own game. When you genuinely love football this is what makes the difference."

Nasri was given the number 8 shirt, previously worn by Arsenal legends such as Ian Wright and Freddie Ljungberg. He made his club debut on 30 July 2008, in a 3-1 friendly win against German club VfB Stuttgart. His Premier League debut came on 16 August in the team's first match of the season against West Bromwich Albion. In the match, Nasri scored his first league goal just four minutes into the game, a close-range effort that secured a 1-0 victory. This made him the 83rd player in Premier League history, and the 22nd Arsenal player, to score on their league debut. On 27 August, he scored his second goal for the club in Arsenal's 2008-09 UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying second leg against Twente, contributing to a 4-0 win and a 6-0 aggregate victory. On 8 November, Nasri scored both of Arsenal's goals in a crucial 2-1 win over Manchester United.

On 21 December, Nasri assisted the opening goal scored by Robin van Persie in the team's 1-1 draw with Liverpool. He regained his scoring form in the new year, netting the second goal in a 3-1 win over Hull City on 17 January 2009. Two months later, he scored again in Arsenal's 3-1 away win against Newcastle United. Nasri concluded his first season at Arsenal with 44 appearances, seven goals, and five assists across all competitions.

On 21 July 2009, during a pre-season training match with Arsenal in Bad Waltersdorf, Nasri suffered a broken leg. This injury required two to three months of recovery, causing him to miss the beginning of the 2009-10 Premier League season. He made his return on 25 October 2009, playing the full match in a 2-1 League Cup victory over Liverpool. On 4 November, he scored his first goal of the season in the team's 2009-10 UEFA Champions League group stage match against AZ. Three weeks later, Nasri scored another Champions League goal against Standard Liège in a 2-0 win. He played a significant role for the team during the winter months, ending 2009 by scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 4-1 away win over Portsmouth.

After a nearly two-month goal drought, Nasri made a spectacular return to scoring form in Arsenal's 5-0 second-leg victory over Porto in the round of 16 of the Champions League knockout stage. This goal, described by The Guardian columnist David Lacey as "reminiscent of a lost art in British football," highlighted Nasri's exceptional dribbling skills and individuality. Upon receiving the ball on the right wing from midfielder Abou Diaby, Nasri skillfully dribbled past three Porto players in a confined space before moving past wing-back Álvaro Pereira and firing the ball across the goalkeeper, finding the net off the far post. The English media widely compared Nasri's goal to similar memorable efforts in the country's football history. Three weeks later, after coming on as a second-half substitute, Nasri scored the opening goal against Birmingham City. However, Birmingham later equalized through a late goal from Kevin Phillips, ending Arsenal's streak of seven consecutive league victories. Manager Wenger admitted the draw was "a big blow for our chances [of winning the league]." In the team's final seven league matches, Nasri assisted goals in a 3-2 loss to Wigan Athletic and a 4-0 home win over Fulham. Arsenal ultimately finished the campaign in third place. Nasri concluded his second season at Arsenal with 34 appearances, five goals, and five assists.

Before the 2010-11 season, Nasri expressed his determination to regain the form that led to Arsenal signing him two years prior. He also admitted that missing out on the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a significant blow, stating, "When I discovered that I wasn't part of the squad for the World Cup, I got a big slap in the face." However, after a conversation with Arsène Wenger, who encouraged him to use the exclusion as motivation, Nasri felt reassured. He began the campaign strongly, starting in Arsenal's opening match against Liverpool on 15 August 2010, a 1-1 draw. Although Arsenal initially confirmed a knee injury that would sideline him for a month after that match, Nasri returned to the team after just three games, helping Arsenal to a 6-0 victory over Braga in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League group stage on his return. On 21 September, he scored two goals, both from the penalty spot, in the club's 4-1 extra-time win over North London derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. Four days later, Nasri scored another brace in a 3-2 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Nasri maintained his excellent form as the season progressed. In the club's Champions League group stage match against Serbian club Partizan, he assisted a goal by Sébastien Squillaci in a 3-1 victory. In October 2010, Nasri embarked on a three-match scoring streak. He began by converting a penalty in a 2-1 win over Birmingham City. In the following match, against Shakhtar Donetsk, Nasri scored with a left-footed volley in a 5-1 victory, also providing an assist. Five days later, against Manchester City, he scored the opening goal and set up the third in a 3-0 win. As a result of his performances in October 2010, Nasri was named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month. In November, Nasri scored again, netting the opener in a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham. A week later, he scored a volley in a 4-2 win over Aston Villa.

On 4 December, Nasri scored two goals against Fulham, securing a 2-1 win for Arsenal, which placed them at the top of the league table. These were his seventh and eighth league goals, and tenth and 11th overall goals, respectively. Just four days later, Nasri scored a crucial goal in Arsenal's vital final group match against Partizan, a 3-1 victory. On 13 December, for his outstanding performances during the 2010 calendar year, Nasri was named the France Football French Player of the Year, surpassing Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda and Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. He became the first Arsenal player to receive this honor since Thierry Henry in 2006. Nasri was also recognized domestically for his performances in December, winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for the second time that season, as well as the club's monthly award. He secured the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award for a third consecutive time in January.

Nasri scored his 13th goal of the season in the 3-0 win against Birmingham City on 1 January 2011. In the FA Cup, he scored his first goal in the competition in a 3-1 win over Leeds United in the third round. On 30 January, Nasri was forced to leave the team's fourth-round FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town due to a hamstring injury. He subsequently missed two weeks and returned to the squad for their Champions League knockout round tie against Spanish champions Barcelona. In the first leg, Nasri assisted the match-winning goal scored by Andrey Arshavin, leading Arsenal to a 2-1 victory. However, Arsenal ultimately lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate after a 3-1 defeat at the Camp Nou in the second leg. On 8 April, Nasri was nominated for both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards. Although he lost both to Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale and teammate Jack Wilshere, respectively, he was included in the association's PFA Team of the Year. During his time at Emirates Stadium, Nasri expressed profound admiration for his former manager Wenger, describing him as a "role model" and a "magician." In total, Nasri scored 27 goals in 124 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions. His departure from Arsenal was partly influenced by his dissatisfaction with the Wenger system, which led to his move to Manchester City.

2.3. Manchester City

On 24 August 2011, it was officially confirmed that Samir Nasri had joined Premier League club Manchester City. The transfer fee for the player was reported to be around 25.00 M GBP, and he signed a four-year contract with the club.

Nasri made his club debut for Manchester City on 28 August 2011, in a league fixture away to Tottenham Hotspur. In an impressive debut, he assisted three goals as Manchester City secured a dominant 5-1 victory. In the team's next match following the September international break, Nasri provided an assist for one of Sergio Agüero's three goals in a 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic. On 1 October, he scored his first goal for the club, netting the third goal in a 4-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers, while also assisting two other goals. After nearly two months without a league goal, on 3 December, Nasri scored his second goal for Manchester City, converting a free-kick in a 5-1 win against Norwich City. In the following month, Nasri scored his third goal for the club in a 3-2 win against Tottenham. On 21 March 2012, he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Chelsea, after receiving a through-ball from teammate Carlos Tevez. On 22 April, he scored in a 2-0 away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 13 May, Nasri achieved his first major honor as a player when Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the 2011-12 season after defeating Queens Park Rangers 3-2 in a dramatic final match.

At the start of the 2012-13 season, Nasri changed his squad number from 19 to 8. On 12 August, Nasri scored and assisted a goal in the 2012 Community Shield, a 3-2 win against FA Cup winners Chelsea. A week later, on the opening day of the 2012-13 Premier League, he again scored and assisted in a 3-2 win against newly promoted Southampton. He then scored against Ajax in a 3-1 loss during the UEFA Champions League group stage. In December 2012, Nasri faced criticism for failing to block Robin van Persie's winning goal for Manchester United in the Manchester Derby.

In March 2013, after a man of the match performance in a 4-0 win against Newcastle United, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini jokingly stated he "would like to give [Nasri] a punch" due to his inconsistent form. On 14 April, Nasri scored the opening goal as City defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final.

Nasri scored his first goal of the 2013-14 season in a notable 4-1 win against Manchester United. On 5 November, he provided assists for goals by Sergio Agüero and Álvaro Negredo as City cruised to a 5-2 victory over CSKA Moscow, securing their advancement to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. On 1 December, Nasri scored twice in a 3-0 win over Swansea City.

On 2 March 2014, Nasri scored the second goal as Manchester City defeated Sunderland 3-1 to win the 2014 League Cup final. For his performance in the final, Nasri was awarded the Alan Hardaker Trophy, given to the Man of the Match. In a crucial Premier League match away to Everton on 3 May, Nasri provided the assist for Edin Džeko's game-winning goal as City came from behind to win 3-2 and move to the top of the table with two matches remaining. On 11 May, Nasri scored Manchester City's opening goal in a 2-0 defeat of West Ham United, securing the 2013-14 Premier League title for the club.

Nasri signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City on 10 July 2014, extending his stay at the club until 2017. On 22 November 2015, manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Nasri would be sidelined for four to five months due to a tendon injury sustained in training. This period was also marked by manager Pep Guardiola's reported dissatisfaction with Nasri's fitness, particularly his weight, which became a factor in his later loan. Upon his return from injury on 10 April 2016, he scored the match-winning goal against West Bromwich Albion, as Manchester City secured a 2-1 victory.

2.4. Loan to Sevilla

On 31 August 2016, Nasri joined Spanish club Sevilla on a season-long loan deal. Having overcome initial muscular problems, he made his La Liga debut nine days later in a 2-1 home win over Las Palmas. In this match, Nasri demonstrated his passing accuracy by completing over 90% of his 69 attempted passes and covering more distance than any other player except teammate Steven Nzonzi.

During his spell at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Nasri played 30 games across all competitions and scored three goals. He netted the only goal in a Champions League group stage victory away to Dinamo Zagreb. However, he was sent off in a 2-0 loss away to Leicester City in the second leg of the Champions League last 16. Following the game, Nasri accused opponent Jamie Vardy of diving to influence the referee's decision to show a second yellow card, an accusation Vardy denied. After the season, Sevilla chose not to exercise their option to make the transfer permanent, reportedly due to the required transfer fee of 25.00 M EUR and Nasri's high salary, leading to his return to Manchester City.

2.5. Later Career

On 21 August 2017, Nasri signed a two-year contract with Turkish side Antalyaspor for a reported transfer fee of 3.50 M EUR. However, his tenure was brief. On 31 January 2018, Nasri mutually terminated his contract with the club, having made eight appearances and scored two goals in the Süper Lig during his five-month stay.

With his doping ban set to conclude on 31 December 2018, Nasri began training with West Ham United and underwent a medical examination in anticipation of signing a short-term contract. Once the sanction ended, Nasri officially signed a short-term deal with West Ham until the end of the 2018-19 season. He made his debut for the club on 5 January 2019, in an FA Cup third-round match against Birmingham City, his first competitive appearance since the ban. In May 2019, West Ham announced that Nasri would depart the club upon the expiration of his contract in June 2019.

On 5 July 2019, Nasri signed for Belgian club Anderlecht on a free transfer. He was brought to the club by his former Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany, who had recently taken on a player-manager role at Anderlecht. Nasri made his debut for Les Mauves on 28 July, as the season began with a 2-1 home loss to Oostende. On 17 August, he scored his first goal in his fourth match, in a 4-2 loss at Kortrijk. On 25 September, he opened the scoring in a 3-2 extra-time win away to Beerschot in the sixth round of the Belgian Cup. From October onwards, he suffered from recurring injuries to his hamstrings and adductor muscles. In April 2020, with football suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nasri was released by Anderlecht, ending his spell with eight appearances and two goals in all competitions. Reports in Belgian media suggested his release was due to violating club rules related to the pandemic, though Nasri himself denied these claims.

4.1. Youth National Teams

Nasri earned caps for all of France's youth teams for which he was eligible. He was a prominent member of the talented group of players, commonly referred to as the "Génération 1987", which also included future internationals like Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Benzema, and Jérémy Ménez.

With the under-16 team, Nasri made 16 appearances and scored eight goals. He was the first among the "Génération 1987" to become a regular starter under coach François Blaquart, making his debut in the team's opening match against Spain, which France won 3-0. Nasri scored his first goal for the team on 29 October in their first group stage match against Sweden at the Tournoi du Val-de-Marne. On 11 December, he scored the opening goal in the team's 6-1 defeat of Greece. At the 2003 Aegean Cup in Turkey, Nasri scored two goals in four matches, contributing to France's third-place finish. He scored against Israel in a 3-1 win and against Ukraine in a 5-0 victory. In the third-place match against Belgium, Nasri assisted a goal scored by Ben Arfa. At the Tournoi de Montaigu, Nasri scored his only goal in the team's 8-0 win over Gabon in their opening group match. France finished as runner-up to Italy, who defeated them 5-1 in the final.

At under-17 level, Nasri, Menez, and Ben Arfa were joined by Karim Benzema with the objective of winning the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship on home soil. Nasri debuted with the team in the season's opening match against Sweden, scoring a goal in a 5-2 victory. In the team's second consecutive yearly appearance at the Tournoi du Val-de-Marne, Nasri scored his sole goal in the competition against the United States in a 2-0 win, as France clinched the championship without conceding a goal. At the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, Nasri scored against Portugal in the semi-finals, helping France to a 3-1 victory and a place in the final. In the final match, France faced Spain, where Nasri scored the game-winning goal to secure France's first-ever title in the competition. In total, with the under-17 team, he made 16 appearances and scored six goals. Due to increased playing time with his senior club, Marseille, Nasri's stint with the under-18 team was uneventful, as he appeared in only four matches.

The quartet of Nasri, Ben Arfa, Benzema, and Ménez reunited for under-19 duty, joined by Issiar Dia, Blaise Matuidi, and Serge Gakpé, with the aim of winning the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. The team began their campaign with two friendly matches against Norway. Across these two matches, Nasri scored two goals: one in a 4-0 win and another in a 5-0 victory. In the first qualifying round for the tournament, Nasri assisted two goals in the team's 3-1 win over Wales. In their next group stage match against San Marino, he scored the third goal in a 3-0 victory. In the final group match against Austria, Nasri scored the opening goal and provided an assist for a Benzema goal in a 2-0 win. Despite finishing the round undefeated, France was eliminated after being outpointed by Scotland. Nasri received his first call-up to the under-21 team under coach René Girard for their first match following the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship against Belgium. He started the match and was substituted at half-time. He also featured in qualification matches for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and appeared as a substitute in both legs of the team's surprising defeat to Israel in the qualifying playoffs. Despite being eligible to represent the team until 2009, his appearance in the second leg defeat to Israel marked Nasri's final match with the under-21 team.

4.2. Senior National Team

On 15 March 2007, Samir Nasri received his first call-up to the senior national team from coach Raymond Domenech for a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against Lithuania and a friendly against Austria. Nasri expressed his immense joy and pride at the call-up, emphasizing its significance as the game against Lithuania was a crucial European Championship qualifier. Although he remained on the bench for the match against Lithuania, Nasri made his international debut on 28 March against Austria at the age of 19. He started the match and played a pivotal role in the only goal, delivering the free-kick from which Karim Benzema scored. Nasri returned to the team in June, and on 6 June, he scored his first senior international goal in a 1-0 Euro qualifying win over Georgia.

On 16 November 2007, Nasri scored his second international goal in a friendly match against Morocco. As a result of his consistent performances, he was named in the 23-man squad to participate in Euro 2008. Nasri made his tournament debut on 9 June 2008, appearing as a substitute in the team's opening group stage match against Romania. He did not play in the team's 4-1 loss to the Netherlands, but he did feature in the team's final group stage match against Italy. Nasri came on as a substitute for the injured Franck Ribéry in the tenth minute. However, following defender Eric Abidal's red card in the 24th minute, Nasri was tactically withdrawn from the match to allow defender Jean-Alain Boumsong to replace Abidal in the lineup.

In November 2008, Nasri was among a group of young players accused of insolence during France's Euro 2008 campaign. The accusation came from his domestic teammate William Gallas, who made the charge in his autobiography. Although not explicitly named, Nasri was widely identified as the player in question. In 2010, after failing to make the 2010 World Cup squad, Nasri commented on the situation, stating that during Gallas' final year at Arsenal, Nasri was one of "four or five" Arsenal players who did not speak to the defender. The feud culminated on 20 November 2010, when Nasri refused to shake Gallas' hand, who was then playing for Tottenham Hotspur, during the pre-match rituals.

During the 2008-09 season, Nasri made only three appearances for the national team. After playing against Lithuania on 28 March 2009, he went uncapped for almost a year and a half. Throughout the 2009-10 season, Nasri grew concerned about his prospects of featuring for the team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ultimately, he was not included in either the preliminary or the final 23-man squad. Reports suggested that his exclusion was due to concerns from manager Raymond Domenech regarding his temperament, particularly given his history of disrupting team harmony at Euro 2008.

Nasri returned to the national team under the new coach Laurent Blanc for the friendly against Norway on 11 August 2010. He missed the September call-ups due to injury but returned to the squad in October for Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Romania and Luxembourg. On 25 March 2011, Nasri captained the national team for the first time in their 2-0 Euro qualification win over Luxembourg, where he provided the assist for the opening goal scored by Philippe Mexès. In the team's final Euro qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nasri scored the equalizing goal from a penalty in a 1-1 draw, securing a Euro 2012 qualifying spot for France. After featuring regularly throughout the Euro 2012 qualifiers, Nasri was named in the squad for the tournament on 29 May 2012. In the team's opening group stage match against England, he scored the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw.

After France's quarter-final loss to Spain in Euro 2012, Nasri engaged in what was described as a "foul-mouthed tirade" against a reporter who questioned him about the match. For this and other instances of misconduct, the French Football Federation (FFF) imposed a three-match international ban on him.

On 13 May 2014, France manager Didier Deschamps announced his 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup, notably omitting Nasri. Reports from some media outlets suggested that senior players such as Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, and Mickaël Landreau had advised Deschamps against selecting Nasri due to concerns about his personal behavior and potential disruption to team morale. Deschamps later publicly stated that his decision was indeed influenced by concerns that Nasri's reaction to being a substitute could negatively impact the team's atmosphere.
On 9 August 2014, at the age of 27, Nasri confirmed his decision to retire from international football. At the time, he openly criticized both the French Football Federation and Didier Deschamps, stating that even if his own father became the national team coach, he would not return.

7.1. Playing Career Evaluation

Nasri is widely recognized as a highly talented and technically gifted attacking midfielder. His time at Olympique de Marseille saw him develop into a prodigious young player, culminating in individual awards like the UNFP Young Player of the Year. At Arsenal, he truly flourished, earning PFA Fans' Player of the Month awards multiple times and being named the French Player of the Year in 2010, establishing himself as a key creative force. His move to Manchester City brought him the most significant team honors, including two Premier League titles and a Football League Cup, where he played a crucial role in decisive matches. Despite his clear abilities and contributions to winning teams, he was sometimes criticized by managers, notably Roberto Mancini, for inconsistent form. His loan spell at Sevilla was generally regarded as satisfactory, though not reaching the heights of his Arsenal years. Overall, Nasri's playing career demonstrated an exceptional flair for football, marked by moments of brilliance and instrumental performances in top-tier competitions.

7.2. National Team Controversies

Nasri's international career with the French national team was marred by several high-profile controversies that negatively impacted his public image and relationship with coaches and teammates. One notable incident involved a public feud with his then-Arsenal and national team colleague William Gallas. Gallas, in his autobiography, accused a young player of insolence during Euro 2008. While Nasri was not explicitly named, he was widely understood to be the subject of the accusation. This conflict escalated, and in a 2010 match, Nasri notably refused to shake Gallas's hand before kickoff.

Following France's elimination from UEFA Euro 2012 in the quarter-finals, Nasri engaged in a "foul-mouthed tirade" against a reporter. This incident led to a three-match international ban imposed by the French Football Federation. His temperament and behavior were also cited as reasons for his exclusion from the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup squads. Manager Didier Deschamps explicitly stated that he omitted Nasri from the 2014 World Cup roster due to concerns that Nasri's potential dissatisfaction as a substitute could disrupt the team's atmosphere and harmony. These repeated issues contributed to a perception of him as a disruptive influence despite his talent.

7.3. Post-Retirement Image

After his retirement from professional football in September 2021, Nasri's public image became a topic of discussion due to reports and images showing significant weight gain. This drew attention from international sports media, with outlets like Marca and Wprost publishing articles on his changed physical condition, highlighting a stark contrast to his playing days. These discussions primarily revolved around his physical appearance rather than any further professional or personal controversies.

8.1. Individual

• UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2006-07
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2006-07
• Premier League Player of the Month: December 2010
• French Player of the Year: 2010
• PFA Fans' Player of the Month: October 2010, December 2010, January 2011
• PFA Team of the Year: 2010-11 Premier League
• Nominated for the Best at Sport award at the British Muslim Awards: 2013
• Alan Hardaker Trophy: 2014
• UEFA Euro 2012 Man of the Match: vs. England (group stage)
• Ligue 1 Top Assister: 2007-08

9.1. Club

9.2. International

Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nasri goal.