TheSportsCampus

French winger Samir Nasri has completed a permanent transfer to moneybags Manchester City, making him the second Gunner to quit for Eastlands after Gael Clichy this summer. The fee taking the Frenchman to City is believed to be around £24m, a relatively high amount given the fact that he had entered the final 12 months of his contract. He is believed to have signed a four year deal worth a whopping £180,000-a-week wages, a figure double of what Arsenal had first tabled when negotiations with his former club began.

Speaking to City’s official website, manager Roberto Mancini stated, “He’s a fantastic player, because he has the technique and the mentality. I followed him when I was at Inter, and we wanted to sign him five years ago.” He went on to add, “In his last four years in the Premier League he has proven a lot, and now I think he’s a top player. He’s a player like David Silva, but is different in the fact that he can also play in the middle.” When asked whether both Silva and Nasri can play together, Mancini replied, “Yes. We can play one left and one right. He’s young, only 24 and for the club, it’s good. “

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was visibly disappointed with Nasri’s departure and stated in an interview to the Gunners’ official website, “Football rules are made like that, that the player can be worth a lot of money today and nothing in six months so it doesn’t look completely logical but, at the end of the day, of course, we are forced into a decision like that for psychological and financial reasons. I am a realist so I have no illusions. It's part of the modern life of a professional football player. It's not that by coincidence that everybody suddenly lands at Man City. We did not want to lose Fabregas, but we were forced into a situation we didn’t want. Nasri is a situation where the player didn’t want to extend his contract with the proposals he had somewhere else. What kind of commitment can you have when the player is not there long-term? That is the question you have to answer.”

Nasri signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2008 following a successful season with French club Marseille for a fee believed to be in the region of £12m. Although manager Arsene Wenger had tried to convince Nasri to sign a new contract, the 24-year old had his heart set on a move due to the Gunners’ failure to win a single trophy during his three years at the club. Another reason for Nasri’s reluctance in signing a long term contract could’ve been the fact that the then potential suitors such as Manchester City and Manchester United were capable of offering much higher wages when compared to the Gunners who were restricted by their rigid wage structure.

Nasri’s departure coupled with Fabregas’ exit has left a gaping hole in Arsenal’s midfield. Although Wenger does have players such as Theo Walcott and new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to fill in at the wing position, the Frenchman would undoubtedly be missed given the excellent form he displayed for the majority of last season. He was perhaps the silver lining for Wenger in last year’s woeful campaign and finished the season with 15 goals and 5 assists in 46 appearances.

For Manchester City, the signing of a player of the stature of Nasri would again be a statement of intent to the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and would surely make them one of the favourites to lift the title this season. The Frenchman will be expected to take on the mantle of being City’s primary right winger and his signing will push the likes of James Milner and Adam Johnson down the pecking order. Nasri’s arrival is also likely to hasten the departure of Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was already surplus to Mancini’s requirements but was being kept at the club as a cover in case of an injury or suspension to the first choice wingers.