Samir Nasri has dropped a huge hint that he is about to call time on his international career with France.
Despite playing a leading role in Manchester City’s Premier League success last season, the 27-year-old was a surprise omission from Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad in the summer. The Les Bleus coach explained that his decision was not based on the 23 best players available, but those he felt would complement each other in the squad, leading to suggestions that Nasri was perhaps a disruptive influence within the camp.
The former Arsenal star already had a chequered history with the national side before he was snubbed for Brazil. He missed out on the squad which travelled to South America four years ago, and he received a three-match ban following Euro 2012 after swearing at reporters. All this now appears to have taken its toll on the player, who has given a strong indication that he is set to announce his retirement from international action.
“I’ve made the decision,” the City midfielder is quoted on Sky Sports. “I made it a while ago but I will announce it when the time is right. It’s not something you can just announce on Twitter. I have to do a full interview and just say it. With the national team I didn’t win anything. When you play for a big club, and you play lots of games, it’s easy to come to this decision.”
Nasri has represented France at every level from the Under-16 side, and made his debut for the senior team as a 19-year-old back in 2007. He has gone on to win 41 caps, scoring five goals, but he has not played since their 2-0 World Cup playoff defeat to Ukraine in November, following which he was left on the bench for the 3-0 success in the return leg.
“Even before the summer, during Euro 2012 I had a lot going on,” he added. “Personally, it doesn’t affect me but it affects my family. They live in France, they read the press stuff. I live in England so I’m fine with everything they say and I’m used to it but for my parents it’s really hard. I want to make them happy and the national team doesn’t make me happy.”
