'I wanted to stay at Arsenal' - Samir Nasri reveals lack of assurances saw him seal Manchester City move

 
Moving on up: Nasri has said Wenger gave him no assurances over a new deal
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Tom Dutton27 April 2014

Samir Nasri has revealed he wanted to stay at Arsenal but uncertainties over a new deal at Emirates Stadium saw him seal a switch to Manchester City in 2011.

The France international has said he was asked by Arsene Wenger about a new deal in October 2010, at which point he expressed his desire to stay in north London.

But eight months later, Nasri had received no assurances over a new deal and with one year left to run on his Arsenal contract he sought other options.

"What happened is this: it was my best season with Arsenal [scoring 15 goals]" Nasri told the Daily Telegraph.

"We were in October [2010] and the manager asked me whether I wanted to stay at Arsenal. "Yes I want to stay at Arsenal" I said.

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"We wait, we wait, we wait. We arrived in June. I have only one year left on my contract."

By August 2011 Nasri had joined City for £24million after shunning offers from Manchester United, Inter Milan and Juventus.

"My agent told me: 'Do you want to play in the big club, already with a big history [United], where you will just be one of them? Or play for Manchester City, who didn't win the league for 44 years, where if you win the trophy, you can make history,'" Nasri added.

"I said 'Oh yeah, I want to make history.'

"In my first year, I won the league. I don't have any regrets."

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