Samir Nasri Recalls Story Of How He Was Close To Dying

Unfiltered and raw. Samir Nasri has shared a disturbing story of his final year at Marseille before completing a transfer to the Premier League with Arsenal.

The French midfielder enjoyed stints with both Arsenal and Manchester City in England's top flight, before heading to Spain's La Liga.

He played for Sevilla on loan from City. But after his season long loan deal expired, he signed for Turkish club Antalyaspor.

_{Antalyaspor's chairman unveils the signing of Nasri. Image: PA}

Despite plying his trade in two of the major leagues across Eurupe while talking with the likes of Lyon and AC Milan in the summer, Nasri opted for the Turkish Super Lig.

Though, on reflection, he's happy with his decision.

"I am very happy to have made this choice. I played 13 seasons at the highest level. But I also needed to cut everything off, and go elsewhere," he told Canal+ via Get Football French News.

_{Nasri in action for Marseille. Image: PA}

Nasri rose to prominence in his native France with Marseille. And he's recalled a moment in his last year at the club.

"During my last year at Marseille, I was in the hospital for 12 days with meningitis, and I saw the actual side of people.

"I saw those who were there for me when everything was going well, when I was Marseille's little prince, when I had played the season where I became an international.

"People were behind me then, but when I was sick for 12 days, with meningitis about to die, no one was there. I noticed how things really were.

_{Nasri celebrates winning the Premier League title with City. Image: PA}

"Even after leaving Arsenal, I signed for Manchester City, I earned a lot of money, the transfer fee was floating around, I was called a mercenary. When it is me, I am a mercenary, but when it is another player, he is not.

"I started to notice how things really were, so from then, I changed and decided to become who I am now - frank, unfiltered, saying it as I see it. If you like it, then great, if you do not, too bad," Nasri added.

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Arsenal

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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