Marseille chairman Pape Bouba Diouf has admitted that the notoriously long transfer saga of Samir Nasri to Arsenal is set to come to an end very soon, but revealed he would say no more until the move is complete.
Yesterday, 20-year-old Nasri announced that a move to the Gunners was signed and sealed on his personal website with Marseille quick to deny that any move was completed just yet.
Nasri’s agent Jean-Pierre Bernes also said the player’s announcement was “premature” and that discussions were ongoing between the two clubs.
Nasri made just two outings as a substitute at Euro 2008 as France were eliminated at the group stages.
He has spent the last four seasons with Marseille and came to prominence in France’s Under-17 European Championship side in 2004.
Pape Bouba Diouf was giving an exclusive interview to Olympique Marseille TV when the clubs President was asked the latest on Samir Nasri’s ‘transfer situation’.
“We knew the position of Samir Nasri. According to his website, he had the opportunity to leave the club with a cheque that would have been much smaller scale compared to the agreements which we reached today,” he states.
“After much negotiations with him and his representatives, we have reached an agreement which will see Samir join Arsenal.
“Samir was very concretely approached by Arsenal, a club which was also sent to us.
Read More Of The Interview By Clicking Here
Nasri, who has been dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane and will be 21 on 26 June, joined Marseille as a nine-year-old and made his league debut during the 2004-2005 season.
He can play on either wing or through the centre and won the French first division’s young player of the year award, and was voted Marseille’s player of the year by fans, at the end of the 2006/2007 campaign.
The transfer is reportedly set for a final conclusion by the end of the week with Nasri expected to pick the number 8 squad number next season.
“So there are steps to be taken which are to establish a definitive agreement between the two clubs. It is not yet done even if verbally, agreements have been completed. There is indeed a strong likelihood that he plays at Arsenal next season but until that agreement is not formalised finally, we cannot talk of his departure.”
June 24, 2008 at 5:42 pm
1st
June 24, 2008 at 5:43 pm
2nd
June 24, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Getting sick of Nasri news now tbh, it’s like a soap
He’s signed, no he hasn’t, he’s signed, no he hasn’t
June 24, 2008 at 5:55 pm
lol lol alex is right…you ppl should make up ur mind …am eager for Nasri to come ..!
June 24, 2008 at 5:58 pm
brillant
June 24, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Gawd this is getting on my nerves now.
June 24, 2008 at 6:03 pm
el classico
June 24, 2008 at 6:04 pm
whatever.
June 24, 2008 at 6:11 pm
ninth
June 24, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Cheered me up
June 24, 2008 at 6:22 pm
“According to his website, he had the opportunity to leave the club with a cheque that would have been much smaller scale compared to the agreements which we reached today. After moult negotiations with him and his representatives, we have reached an agreement which will see Samir join Arsenal.”
So we’ve agreed on a fee that’s significantly higher than his release clause? Why?
June 24, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Just the transfer fee to be agreed. It looks as though personal terms have been agreed. Seems like Arsenal willing to pay 13 mill while Marseilles want something like 15, they’ll meet halfway.
June 24, 2008 at 6:25 pm
bad boy
June 24, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I fed up with Nasri.:D I don’t wait for him, probably the Arsenal will annonuce him.
June 24, 2008 at 6:47 pm
2nd July is the date he’s expected to sign according to my sources.
June 24, 2008 at 6:49 pm
what a load of crap all this transfer saga causes.
why does not arsenal ever say anything its like waiting for paint to dry!
useless scunts!
June 24, 2008 at 6:50 pm
but both clubs wait for July 2 formalized its signature everything to enable OM to spend € 17M transfer on the year 2008/2009 and not on the 2007/2008 say L’Equipe.
June 24, 2008 at 6:52 pm
i think that the samir nasri’s deel needs to be finally done that some of us arsenal fans can rest from the threats of the other clubs fans.it is always said that we are noted for being to,and not buying.gunners beware
June 24, 2008 at 7:13 pm
They just need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Chris about this Diogo guy, would i be right in saying if Ade leaves then he’s the replacement.
June 24, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Hey Gooner Chris thanks for the update been dying to finish my exam and know whats happening.
Ive been reading your site along with young guns which are both the best sites on Arsenal and have given me inspiration to make my own blog.
Its called ArseFlash if im rite its http://arseflash.wordpress.com
so please check it out and yeah criticism is welcome
so thanks again.
cya
June 24, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hmmm, Diogo’s price tag is around £12 million, I doubt AW will pay that much for a fairly unproven player. He’s more in the mould of Carlos Vela than Ade tbh with the latter likely to stay at the club.
June 24, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hi ArseFlash,
I’ll add the link now.
Chris
June 24, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Cheers.
June 24, 2008 at 7:27 pm
oh how do i add your link im not to good with this bare with me,
i agree i cant see arsene spending cash on this guy but tbh ive never seen him play, but well see.
June 24, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I am just soooooooo bored of this football lark. Gawd, isnt there anything else on?
June 24, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Goal.com just copied this article!!!!!
Link
June 24, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Well done Chris.. again!
June 24, 2008 at 7:43 pm
haha, cheers mate.
June 24, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Those cheeky fuckers
how can they do that argh i think if im right that happened over at young guns. Can you report them?
June 24, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Oh, and you didn’t even got the gredits! Those pastards..
June 24, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Whatever happens he will join wether its now or at the end of the euros like wenger said..
June 24, 2008 at 8:07 pm
as long as he is a gunner by next season they could wait till august as far as i am concerned….. nah july 2 is long enough
anyone think there will be another signing after nasri or is this it
June 24, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Let’s see what Hleb is doing..
June 24, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Its got nothing to do with his price tag that we will pay,its to do with his pay off from Marseille.It makes it complicated because Samir has recently signed a new contract at O’M.He was probabley due more than they were offering.
June 24, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Goal havent completely copied you article, differently worded LOL
But you were first so fuck them
June 24, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I really hope nasri is not the last signing this summer but cant help but feel it is… maybe 1 or 2 small signings..
June 24, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Enough of small signings..
June 24, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I know pal, but we know what wenger’s like
June 24, 2008 at 9:20 pm
This transfer saga really has been ridiculously annoying and has taken the gloss off aigning a quality player. Bored of it now
June 24, 2008 at 9:22 pm
We dont need that many big signings hente we were only just behind United last season and the season we went unbeaten we only brought in Lehmann i think an that was it.
June 24, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Well, at the end of the season Mr. Wenger spoke about maybe 2 or 3 quality signings. Then off goes Flamster and Hleb is soon to follow. Nasri coming, ok, but still we’re like at minus 1 to me.
You know, I just hate the idea of us losing the battle in the end just because we run out of steam as the squad is too small. We need top players to sit on the bench every now and then to give some rest to the others. Look, ManU used Miss Portugal and Shrek as a subtitute at the end of the season.
June 24, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Yeah but u forget to mention the fact that Man Utd had relatively few injuries while 3, yes 3 of arsenals best players were out for a considerable length of time Roonaldo, Rooney and Tevez all remained injury free. Imagine if man utd had been without these 3 for about half the season there strength in depth would be much reduced.
Arsenals strength is shown here (except for CB where i think we need 1):
GK: Almunia, Fabianski (looks like a class goalie just needs more games)
LB: Clichy, Troare (with Gallas able to cover the position aswell)
CB: Toure Gallas Senderos Djourou Nordveit (looks like a great player and will play carling cup this season)
RB: Sagna Eboue
LM/RM: Rosicky ( great player if stays fit), Nasri (legend in the making), Walcott, Vela (very impressive striker who can play very well on wing see him play Real), Ramsey, Barazite
CAM: Fabregas, Nasri, Denilson, Merida, Randall
CDM: Diaby, Gilberto, Denilson, Lansbury
Strikers: Adebayor (i think he will deff stay), RVP, Eduardo, Bendtner ( 5 goals in last 7 international games and a goal every other start for Arsenal),Vela (3 goals in last 3 internationals), Walcott, Barazite ( highly rated Dutchman)
June 24, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Believe me my Goonermate, I really hope you’re right and some of the lads you mentioned can do the job and fill in if needed. Let’s just take Hleb for example. He was totally exhausted at the end of the season but still there was no one to come in and give some rest to him.
June 24, 2008 at 11:47 pm
While Barazite plays upfront often, he is naturally an attacking centre mid as far as I am aware, that squad is reliant upon us promoting a lot of young players who are very inexperienced, while they are fantastic players, its a risk and a half. Also you missed out the surprisingly awesome Song Bilong.
June 25, 2008 at 12:01 am
[...] More Nasri News: L’OM Chairman Confirms Arsenal Agreement [image] Marseille chairman Pape Bouba Diouf has admitted that the notoriously long transfer saga of Samir Nasri to [...] [...]
June 25, 2008 at 3:27 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZHlebZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzNasriZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzAdebayorZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZArshavinZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
June 25, 2008 at 3:51 am
i dont see randall beeing soo good,who knows maybe i am wrong.
June 25, 2008 at 7:35 am
I wonder who that number 14 shirt is being held for!?!
I think we should sell Adebeyor/Hleb – My reasons being:
Hleb – played like a nervous little boy for 2 years when Henry was there and has scored 8 goals in three years which in my book is more like a defenders goalscoring record not an attacking midfielders.
Adebeyor – Has had one good season since signing three seasons ago also another shadow of Henry for 2 years, yes he scored 30 goals but imagine if he would have squared that ball the Bendtner against Birmingham to make it 3-2 – we would have gone on to win it because that game was the start of our downfall! Any player that does not come out and say I am not leaving in my book can go and see if he can change any of the players abroad success after leaving Arsenal – I doubt it.
My point – Ade/Hleb could not handle the pressure when we had the superstar legend Henry breathing down there necks – how will they cope surrounded by them in Barca/Milan? Combined we will get over 30 million for them!
Sell them! Get Eto for Ade – Toure for Hleb and we will still get some money on top with much better players – chuck in our loved legend Henry if they want to seal all deals!!
I have written an off the subject blog because I to am bored of the Nasri thing – to be honest before we went in for him and I Youtubed him I had never heard of him but I don’t doubt Wenger so I am sure he is great and he will sign Friday I reckon or Saturday.
C’mon you gooners!! We don’t get held to ransom we love who we have and slate who are greedy!
Players do not progress once leaving us so lets take it as a compliment!
The other thing was F**k Flamini to – one good season – the season before that he was on his way to Birmingham and we have some very good players coming though now! Randell/Diaby/Denilson/Ramsey/Walcott etc etc also watch out for the 17 year old Jack Wiltshire! Gonna be a good’un!!
June 25, 2008 at 11:27 am
ARSENAL HAVE NO CHANCE OF SIGNING ARSHAVIN I.M.O.WITH THE LIKES OF THAT CHELSEA CUNTING OWNER IN HIS EAR DONT THINK HE WILL END UP AT THE EMIRATES…THIS NASRI SITUATION HAS JUST GOT STUPID NOW….
June 25, 2008 at 11:35 am
It’s OK for Nasri ^^
“At the resumption of training of OM, Samir Nasri has confirmed that he would sign his contract with Arsenal on July 2.”
Eurosport.fr
June 25, 2008 at 12:16 pm
om has just agreed a fee with lyon for Hatem Ben Arfa sky sports news
June 25, 2008 at 1:49 pm
That squads not reliant on young players for instance with the wings there are Rosicky, Nasri and Walcott before we get to the less experienced but internatioal Vela and then the last two Ramsey and Barazite will only really come off the bench or play in the Carling cup. Then upfront we have much experience with all of our strikers bar Barazite having international experience and all of the rest except Walcott are regular internationals. Our goalkeepers aswell are both very good aswell Fabianski looks great. Our defence is were we need a new CB but apart from that we are sorted. On Song compeletely forgot bout him hopefully he’ll get his chance in CDM but otherwise will be good for Carling cup at CB.
July 2, 2008 at 2:57 pm
[...] has been widely reported that Nasri agreed a switch to the Gunners before Euro 2008, and finalised the switch following France’s elimination from the tournament. Marseille had wanted to wait [...]
July 11, 2008 at 2:59 pm
[...] star when his official website announced that he had signed for Arsenal. Gunners fans were stunned to find out that the news was ‘premature’ as described by Nasri’s agent Jean [...]