Samir Nasri has been talking to the Telegraph about his time as a youth and growing up in Marseille. He came from a poor family but describes his family live as being 'Rich In Love' He spoke passionately about the sacrifices his parents made to give him a chance in life. "I came From Nothing" .

City's attacking midfielder is a controversial figure, falling out with managers such as Roberto Mancini and whole groups of fans such as Arsenal's. He is perceived as materialistic, selfish. He is also intelligent, eloquent and with more personal hinterland than previously headlined.

This Thursday afternoon the 26 year old French Man spent his time with a group of school children being taught how the club receptionist would deal with fans ringing in to complain about everything from a cold pie (“we are so sorry and here’s a voucher for a hot one”) to a player missing a penalty (“we are so sorry but some things are beyond our control”). This will all lead up to the Children gaining a qualification in business and enterprise through a project related to City life.

The children drew designs of watches which Nasri judged, eventually choosing one for a skydiver, before a quick Q and A. “Why did you leave Arsenal?’’ asked one boy. “Tell me in the last few years which trophies Arsenal have won?” Nasri replied. The class finished with a mass gaggle of selfies with Nasri, who then found a quiet room to talk. “Sometimes it is a good thing to hear what kids have to tell you,’’ he said. “Kids just tell the truth.’’

“It’s a good thing that City is doing with this work. This gives the young people the opportunity to work. I get something out of this too. You don’t forget where you came from. I came from nothing. I was in Marseille in a bad area. We didn’t have anything. We were rich in love. I couldn’t afford to go to Stade Velodrome even though I was really passionate to go. It was too expensive.
“But growing up there in the community were the best years of my life. We were lots of people living there, like a big family in the community. My parents sacrificed everything for me. My father worked on a building site, and as a driver, so many jobs. My mum was at home full-time to take care of me, my sister and two brothers.’’

As a 10 year old boy Samir watched the fighting that took place during France 98 at the French port where he grew up. There was several days of running battles between local youths,England fans and police before England clashed with Tunisia during the group stages of the competition. "I remember that like it was yesterday. It was a game against Tunisia. There was a big fight. Everyone in Marseille has a big temper. If I said Cantona, you know. He's from Marseille. In Marseille you have two sides of the city: the rich side and the poor side. When you come from the poor side, you have to defend yourself. It's just the way we are.

"Recently in France, if you are a football player your image is really bad. Economically, there's a crisis in France. The people in France in general think all the players they just have too much money, they are not polite, they are arrogant. If you are from a [Muslim] community, it is even worse. France changed a lot. I don't like it. I love England. I love London. It's great for me to be there. That's where I can see my future."

Nasri emerged from the Marseille youth academy made his name during three seasons in the first team at Stade Velodrome before being brought to London in 2008 for £15.8m by Arsène Wenger. "Arsene is my football father. He took me from France, made me the player I am, made me believe about my quality. I am pleased Arsenal are in the final of the FA Cup. I hope they win. I might have a problem with Arsenal fans because of the way they treat me but I just want Arsene to win a trophy because he doesn't deserve everything that has been said about him.

"I am a big fan of Jose Mourinho but what he said about Arsene is really disrespectful. Arsenal is Arsene. He changed the club. You cannot call him 'a specialist in failure'. Everyone needs to calm down, even the Arsenal fans because they are really mean with him. In Arsene We Trust'. That's what they said. They should do it.''

Samir left Arsenal under a cloud in 2011 and was accused of greed. "This image of me being 'materialistic' is a French thing. People were envious. It's fine. What happened is this: it was my best season with Arsenal [15 goals]. 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. Then they offered me a contract. It was far from what I wanted. With my agent, we were saying: if I stay at Arsenal, I know I'm going to win less money, but it's fine, I'm only 23. I have time to win money. If I'm good I will always win money.

"The problem was the [new] stadium. They didn't have the money to buy the players. Arsene can see into the future. He didn't want to be penalised by Financial Fair Play so he wanted to stay by the rules and not living by debt. This year everything has been paid. He's just paid pounds 50?million for Mesut Ozil.''

Nasri joined City for £24m. He prospered under Roberto Mancini but soon had disagreements with a coach. Mancini publicly accused him of only playinh at %50 after winning the title. This is what Nasri had to say to The Telegraph. “How I can say it without being rude. He’s a different person when he wants you and when he has you. When he wanted me, he was calling me every day, telling me everything I wanted to hear. I arrived here and for me it was a shock. He was really, really the opposite of Arsène Wenger. Not even a ‘good morning’.
“Sometimes when you play he comes and talks to you. If you don’t play he doesn’t talk to you for three or four months. It’s never his fault. You cannot have a discussion with him, try to explain something. When we have a loss, he gets crazy in the dressing-room.
"He says things that you cannot say even on the street to someone. I really had the bad experience with him. He had the results as a manager everywhere he went because he had great players with him. But now, he will not be in my top three or four managers of all time.”

Samir has warmed quickly to Mancinis predecessor though. "He's the brother of Arsene Wenger. They are the same. Seriously. They want their team to play the same: attacking, possession of the ball. They are really good people, really calm. After a loss, they'll never scream and shout at you in the dressing-room. The day after, they tell you everything they saw. I really like them both.''

After winning the Capital One Cup earlier this year City's season has tailed off. “The problem is we had too many injuries. I still believe we can win the league. If you win the league and the Capital One Cup in the same season, for his first season, it is a great season.’’

City progressed further in the Champions League this season but their hopes shredded after losing the first leg of their round of 16 tie 2-0 to Barcelona at home, shipping an expensive late goal to Dani Alves when down to 10 men.

“In Europe, yes, we need more experience. A team with more experience would have stayed 1-0 at home against Barcelona. A team with more experience would know you are having a bad day, so you don’t attack, you try to keep the ball, stay calm and think ‘it’s OK we are losing 1-0 because we are going to go there and score one goal and it will be different’.
"But when you lose 2-0 at home against a team with experience like Barcelona you know it’s really hard to go in the Camp Nou and win 3-0. It’s almost impossible. We need more experience but you cannot buy experience. It is by playing the competition together that you get the experience.”

Nasri went on to say how he feels City are growing as a team under Pellegrini's bonding exercises. “It’s the wish of the manager for us to do simple things, go to restaurants together, a concert together, have a night out together, do something with the wives as well. That makes us not just team-mates but friends as well.
"Sometimes if you don’t like your team-mate who is telling you to run, it is really hard to accept. If you are friends you can tell anything you want and they will not get upset. We improve a lot as well. The atmosphere in the dressing-room is much better than in the past.”

While it may have not been the greatest season for City it has been even worse for United where Davis Moyes had failed to inspire the dressing room. “Every player has a big ego and you have to manage it,’’ observed Nasri. “No disrespect to Everton or Moyes, he did a fantastic job there, but when you arrive at a club like Manchester United, you have a big wolf in the dressing-room waiting for you.
"They have won Champions Leagues, five or six leagues. And you arrive there and you think you are going to change everything that they used to do?! He would have been more sensible to keep the staff of Alex Ferguson at least for one year, to have them talk to the players who respect them. The staff were there for many years. After one year, when they get used to you, you can bring your staff and work with them.
“The problem is Moyes never won a trophy and he arrived there and wants to change everything. But what Manchester United have been doing this week by sacking him is a complete mistake. At least let him finish the season and then sack him at the end of the season, and bring a new manager. But four games before the end of the season? There is no sense.”

This summer we have the World Cup in Brazil but unfortunately Nasri is not expected to travel with France, despite being one of their best players. France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, has shown little willingness to use Nasri, hinting that he was being omitted for non-footballing reasons. Nasri was suspended for three games for ranting at reporters in 2012 but has played since.

“To be honest with you, if I have to evaluate my chances now I would be 70-30 against me going to the World Cup. If I had the phone-call with him (Deschamps) and a real talk with him I would know where I stand. I would know: ‘OK, maybe I did this or this wrong, I have to change this or that to go to the World Cup’.

“Since I was five, my dream was to be a football player. Then when I grew up a little bit, it wasn’t a dream, it was a target. I always dream about being the best. If you want to be the best, you have to play in a World Cup, you have to win a World Cup. My role models were Maradona, Ronaldo, Zidane.
"They all won the World Cup. Not to play at a World Cup in Brazil, the country of football, would be a big disappointment but I will accept it. I missed one already in 2010, in South Africa, the first one in Africa as well. It was symbolic. But life continues.”

Nasri has alredy started thinking about life after football despite being only 26. “I would love to (manage). That’s what I am saying now but I don’t know how my career is going to end. If it’s a really painful end maybe I will take some time, be with the family. By that time we will have kids. Then I’ll come back in the game. I’m really passionate about it. I just had one obsession growing up — football.”

Photo: Action Images

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