PREMIER LEAGUE NASRI GETS NASTY

Pell reveals Samir is on a revenge mission to prove all the doubters wrong

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has revealed Samir Nasri is fired up by “revenge” as he bids to make a success of his comeback.

The West Ham midfielder lines up against his former side Arsenal in a mouthwatering derby at the London Stadium.

Nasri, 31, spent 18 months serving a doping ban before signing for the Irons on January 1. Pellegrini (above), who lifted the title with him at Manchester City, believes Nasri is driven to silence the doubters who reckon he is no longer the player he was. The Irons boss said: “I think they can expect a lot from him because he is a top player. He has started to play for us, and when he is used to playing 90 minutes again he will be a top player at this club.

“He wants revenge also and for me it is so important to give him the opportunity to work with us. I hope we will recover the same Samir Nasri we saw three or four years ago with me at Manchester City. He wants revenge for the ban which declined his career.” Nasri feared his career was over after being found guilty of receiving an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in December 2016, in breach of World Antidoping Agency rules.

The two-time title winner, signed on a six-month deal, said: “I’m still disappointed about it because I didn’t take any substance.

“It was just the dosage of the vitamin that was too much. I could do it in two days but I did it in just one day and so I have regrets about it because I was sick. I had a doctor’s prescription, but it still hasn’t been accepted.

“I lost one year of my career that just went like that and at one point they were talking about a four-year suspension.

“A lot of things went through my mind. I thought my career was over so having this second chance makes me lucky.”

Pellegrini remains adamant that while age has caught up with Nasri, he is still a risk worth taking. He went on: “From Arsenal, City bought him. From then his career declined without doubt.

“When I bring players here I say my responsibility doubles over when players were already here with the squad.

“You must take decisions. This was a risky decision but not a high risk one – because he signed for six months.

“He didn’t want a large amount of money – he wants to demonstrate between now and June he is able to be a top football player.”