Samir Nasri

Infobox Football biography
playername = Samir Nasri


fullname = Samir Nasri
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|6|26
cityofbirth = Marseille
countryofbirth = France
height = height|m=1.78
currentclub = Arsenal
clubnumber = 8
position = Attacking Midfielder / Winger
youthyears = 2000–2004
youthclubs = Marseille
years = 2004–2008
2008–
clubs = Marseille
Arsenal
caps(goals) = 121 (11)
004 0(1)
nationalyears = 2002–2003
2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
2006–2006
2007–
nationalteam = France U-15
France U-16
France U-17
France U-18
France U-21
France
nationalcaps(goals) = 0018 (8)
0018 (8)
004 (0)
0010 (5)
004 0(0)
013 0(2)
pcupdate = 15:34, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 04:58, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987 in Marseille) is a French international footballer of Algerian descent who currently plays his club football for the English Premier League side Arsenal. He has been compared to Robert Pirès by Arsene Wenger who also described him as a quick and technically outstanding player with mobility, vision and a good engine. [ [http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/nasri-agrees-to-join-arsenal-from-marseille Nasri agrees to join Arsenal from Marseille] , arsenal.com, accessed 18 August 2008.] [ [http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-nasri-has-ingredients-to-succeed Wenger – Nasri has ingredients to succeed] , arsenal.com, accessed 18 August 2008.] [ [http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-nasri-has-a-bit-of-pires-about-him Wenger - Nasri has a bit of Pires about him] , arsenal.com, accessed 18 August 2008.]

Early life

Nasri's parents moved to France from Algeria. His father is from Constantine and his mother is a native of Biskra. Nasri grew up in La Gavotte Peyret, in one of Marseille's tough northern suburbs. He often played on the streets, where in fact he learnt a majority of his skills. He used to play for the local gang team, but after much violence, his parents signed him up to the football club Pennes Mirabeau at the age of 8 years. He spent two seasons there before being scouted by Olympique de Marseille.

Marseille

Nasri began playing with Marseille when he was 9 years old. He started playing in Ligue 1 in the 2004/2005 season at the age of 17, when he started 13 games and came on as a substitute in 11 games, scoring one goal. The next season got him experience in both the UEFA Cup (10 games; no goals) and the Intertoto Cup (one game; one goal). In the 2006/2007 season he scored his first goal of the year in Ligue 1 late in the season on April 29, 2007, when he started the match against Sochaux and helped his team to a 4–2 victory. This win allowed Marseille to climb into fourth place with just four games remaining, putting them into the UEFA Cup qualifying spot.

On May 20, 2007, Samir Nasri was named French Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/wires/05/20/2080.ap.eu.spt.soc.france.player.of.the.year.0312/index.html Samir Nasri won Young Player of the Year at Sports Illustrated] ] [ [http://www.sport24.com/sport24-fil-info-actualite-sportive-news-football-nasri-meilleur-espoir-58961.html Samir Nasri best young player at Sport 24] ] ahead of Jimmy Briand and Karim Benzema. He was voted Marseille's player of the year by the fans, receiving 62% of the votes.

Arsenal

On July 11 2008 Nasri signed for Arsenal from Olympique de Marseille on a long-term contract for £12.7 million (€16m). He made his Arsenal debut on 30 July against VfB Stuttgart in Germany, playing for around 60 minutes in the friendly encounter. He scored on his Premier League début, against West Brom with a close range effort, after only four minutes of the first game of the season, on 16 August 2008. Although not yet confirmed by the club, it is believed to be the fastest goal ever scored by an Arsenal debutant. [ [http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3002937,00.html Nasri opens Arsenal account] , skysports.com, accessed 18 August 2008.] On 27 August Nasri made his Champions League début in the 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg against FC Twente, scoring in the 26th minute to mark his European debut the same way as he did with his league debut—with a goal. On 12 September, Nasri was rewarded O2/Arsenal.com Player of the Month.

International career

Nasri has been involved in the French national set up for a long time, progressing through the Under-16s, 17s, 18s, 19s and 21s. He was part of the team that won the 2004 UEFA U-17 Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the final match. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2004/round=1661/match=75439/index.html Châteauroux celebrates French win] , uefa.com, accessed 15 August 2008.] Nasri received his first cap for the senior team on March 28 2007 against Austria, in a home friendly match at the age of 19. He delivered a free kick low into the box from which teammate Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the match. He scored his first senior international goal in his third appearance for the senior team in a 1–0 win against Georgia on June 6 2007 in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier. Nasri was named in Raymond Domenech's final squad for Euro 2008; at age 20, he was one of the youngest members of the French squad selected for the final tournament. He made two appearances as a substitute and played for 32 minutes.

International goals

Arsenal career statistics

:"(correct as of 5 October 2008)"

References

External links

* [http://www.samirnasri.fr/ The Official Samir Nasri Website]
* [http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/samir-nasri Arsenal.com profile]
* [http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=743368 Goal.com profile]
* [http://www.rlfoot.fr/Joueurs/NASRI_Samir.htm French National Team Stats]