OUTCAST NASRI
Man City stars want Frenchman out of club
SaMir naSri has become a virtual outcast at Manchester City with his own team-mates questioning why he is on the club’s tour of america.
City are seeking a buyer for nasri, who is the subject of a UeFa investigation into an alleged breach of doping rules while on loan at Sevilla last season.
the 30-year-old Frenchman was surprisingly added to the tour party and came on as a secondhalf substitute in the Manchester derby in houston last week.
But it is understood that nasri’s mood in camp has left some City players wondering why he was not left at home to train.
one insider said: ‘ the squad don’t understand why nasri is even here. he is very unpopular due to his arrogant attitude. Some of the squad even want him to go back to Manchester.’
nasri, a £24million signing from arsenal in 2011, has two years left on his £120,000-a-week deal at the etihad but does not figure in pep Guardiola’s plans.
however, City’s attempts to sell him have been complicated by the UeFa probe after it emerged that he visited the drip doctors clinic in Los angeles in december and may have received intravenous treatment that could breach doping rules.
he faces a ban of up to four years if found guilty.
nasri is continuing to train with City in Los angeles ahead of Wednesday night’s second tour game against real Madrid.
Meanwhile, City have completed a £27m deal for real Madrid’s danilo, with the Brazil right back claiming it has always been his ambition to work under manager pep Guardiola.
the 26-year-old has signed a fiveyear deal at the etihad. he was unveiled in Los angeles yesterday before joining up with his new team-mates on their US tour.
it means City have spent £133m on three full backs this month and £221.7m so far this summer in total as Guardiola looks to overhaul his squad.
the deal for danilo, who can play on the left as well as competing with £54m signing Kyle Walker on the right, is all set to bee followed by the arrival of Benjamin Mendy after Monaco accepted a £52m bid.
danilo told the club’s official website: ‘i am very, very happy to be joining Manchester City.
‘there has been strong interest from other clubs, but it has always been my ambition to play for pep Guardiola. as soon as i heard of his interest, i knew immediately i wanted to be a City player.
‘ i would love to win the Champions League with Manchester City.’