A few years ago, an OM player had several options for his future, while Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were among his suitors. The main person concerned, however, chose another destination, believing that at the time these clubs were “washing machines”.
Rare player from the Marseille city to succeed in winning theABOUTSamir Nasri left his training club in the summer of 2008 to join Arsenal. At the time, Ligue 1 was dominated byOLwho had just won his seventh consecutive French championship title and, feeling that Marseille did not have the means to fight, the former French international (41 caps) felt that it was time for him to leave.
“Marseille was a springboard for players”
« OM, I saw that, for me, we did not have the weapons to compete with Lyon. Especially Lyon at the time, it was a real power. Whereas Marseille was a springboard for players. (Didier) Drogba comes, he has one season, he wants to stay, but Marseille tells him: “No, no. You have to leave because we have an offer from Chelsea.” Franck (Ribéry) is international, suddenly, it’s as if he can no longer stay at OM. Bayern are coming, go, you can leave. We weren’t going to keep the best players and at some point, in terms of the club’s finances, it was going to block », explained Samir Nasri in the show Zack Freewheeling in 2023.
“I had Real Madrid, I had Barça, but they are washing machines”
Not necessarily very excited by the prospect of playing in England at first, Arsene Wenger ended up convincing him, despite the interest of Real Madrid a you FC Barcelona : « I had this thing about going abroad, but basically, the Premier League is not necessarily the championship that attracts me the most. I started watching him with the Frenchies, the Arsenal Gunners, the Invincibles. With Arsène Wenger, we meet in Paris during the season. He tells me his plans, how he wants to play. For me, it’s a perfect step before a top club. Arsenal are playing young people, are in the title race and are still in the last four of the Champions League. This allows you to take a step forward without taking the plunge. He’s a French coach, he’ll help me acclimatize and that’s the choice we made. Because I had Real Madrid, I had Barça, but they are washing machines. »
