Marseille coach Eric Gerets believes Samir Nasri’s imminent departure to Arsenal is a “big loss” for the French side.
The 54-year-old former Belgian international regrets letting the French midfielder leave but also stated how a move to the Gunners will certainly improve him.
Gerets also revealed that Nasri was present at the clubs training session this morning in which the 20-year-old said farewell to his close team mates.
“It is unfortunate that Samir will leave Ligue 1,” said the Marseille coach. I regret seeing him leave and so do his team mates. But it’s good for him to join a big team like Arsenal. He has the mentality to have a great career. “
Nasri, who has been dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane and will be 21 tomorrow, 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.
His move to Arsenal is expected to be officially announced after the European Championships. Nasri will become Arséne Wenger’s second acquisition of the summer after the earlier signing of Welshman Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City.
June 25, 2008 at 4:09 pm
hurry up and do the deal.
June 25, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Yawn! Will this merry-go-round ever end..I’ m getting sick..LOL!
June 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Read the bottom paragraph mate
June 25, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I am now less sceptial about Nazri move after reading that his replacement Ben Arfa has been landed by his outgoing club
June 25, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I think we all knew Nasri was joining anyway. The Ben Arfa signing just proves it even more.
June 25, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I will not belive it untill the deal is done and dusted…………
June 25, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I agree Gooner Chris
Wow, today is like the first day i’ve posted on my favourite websites lol! Yeah i went on ‘La provence’ website and found the Ben Arfa news when it had just been agreed and translated it…I was pleased with myself lol!
Just wanted to say though, youre doing a great job here, you’ve always got up to date and exclusive information, its great! I look forward to plenty more
Going back to the Nasri saga, i made myself think i wouldn’t believe it until arsenal.com says, but its looking more and more than he has basically signed…Anyway, some people are saying it will be done after the Euro 2008, but have you got the main reason? The reason i ask is because some people say the deal will be then because that’s when Wenger gets back…but Ramsey was unveiled while Wenger was still at the Euro, so surely Nasri could be unveiled to?
Thanks again for the info,
Keep it up,
Jamal
June 25, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Cheers Jamal. Thanks for the support.
I personally feel Wenger will wrap up the deal when he comes back from his TV duties for both Al Jazeera and TF1. Then he can seal the deal and get a well earned break!
June 25, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Yeah, makes sense. Hmm, i’ve waited 2 months for this deal, i can wait another week
On a different note, I know we’ve been linked with quite a few DMF and holding midfielders (Senna, Inler etc…) but what do you think of Nigel De Jong? We haven’t been linked with him yet, but i rate him.
Thanks,
Jamal.
June 25, 2008 at 4:41 pm
This has been one of the most boring and annoying transfer sagas in premier league history, surely FIFA, the FA, UEFA or whoever has got to do something about transfer deals dragging on because this has been going on for like 2 months and it’s disrespectful to fans of both clubs and everyone in football. They should shut the transfer window for a week and see how people like that!
FUCK SAKE
June 25, 2008 at 4:42 pm
A well earned break !!!!!! Wenger had better sort out a decent centre back and defensive midfielder first – Although I think he will use Song and centre back and Diaby / Gilberto / Denilson as a partner for Fab – He is a great believer in a team spirit and getting a group to believe in themselves – I still think we are short of a few players – certainly not in the attacknig sense – We have “new” signings in Vela / Nasri / Ramsey and fit again ( I hope ) RVP and even Rosicky. So what if Hleb goes – two or three goals and inconsistent performances are not going to be missed. We have an abundance of talent in th eflair / attacking department but no real solidity. I seem to remember The Spuds weredescribed as having no problem scoring goals – just shipping them. Well didn’t we score more than them – We ship too many goals as well but its all relative – We ship too many goals for a team looking to win the title not one loking to stay in the top half of the table. We are still lacking some defensive BITE – whether that is Centre Half or Def Mid. We need some backbone somewhere Arsene but I think we may be looking at promotion form within – not because we can’t afford it – as most opposition fans like to think – but because Wenger wants it that way
One of the best blogs by the way mate amidst a sea of absolute sh1te websites looking for “clicks”
June 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Well, we probably have been linked with him! There’s been so much speculation I guess his name would of popped up at least once.
Even so, I really admire De Jong. He has a fantastic work ethic which is there for all to see on the pitch. He also has a superb passing range and is very hard to knock off the ball because of his large stature.
We’re unlikely to sign him, but he’s one I’d definitely like to see come to the club this summer.
June 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm
The Well earned break comment refers to past no 8 by Gooner Chris
June 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Longest transer in history. The name Nasri, Wenger, Diouf and agent make me sick!!!
what a way to start pre season it’s an absolute joke
June 25, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Thanks again EdinburghGooner. Support greatly appreciated
June 25, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Is Arsenal waiting to reveal a ‘few’ players together? Its impossible for so many people in the know to make same verbal gaffes again and again. Looks like Arsenal is holding it back for reasons only known to them. What can it be?
June 25, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Hopefuly Wenger will unveil a few more players than just Nasri!!!
June 25, 2008 at 4:57 pm
this signing is arguably the biggest anti climax of signing in the world EVER.
its the same old shit every day. ‘he will join in the next few days’, ‘he will join today’, ‘now hes going to join after france exit euro 2008′, ‘now france are out his signing is imminent’, ‘he’s signed, oh no he hasn’t', ‘he will sign in the next few days’, ‘he will sign AFTER euro 2008′.
June 25, 2008 at 5:18 pm
gooner chris go on news now and see the new article on setanta about adebayor going to milan. his agent said its 80% chance he’ll leave for milan.
June 25, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I saw mate. Seems like agent talk IMO. I’ll look into it though.
June 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm
cheers. gd article by the way.
June 25, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Cheers mate.
June 25, 2008 at 5:27 pm
G.C wasnt de jong the one who said it would be a dream to play for arsenal lke 2 and a half months ago.
June 25, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Nice job Chris. Now any idea who’ll be following Nasri to our stupendous team this summer?
June 25, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I’m not sure why people are blaming Arsenal or Wenger for the hold up on the Nasri signing, when it is clearly Marseille who asked for the delay. It is either because they wanted to soften the blow of his departure by being able to announce the arrival of Ben Arfa, or for tax purposes in relation to putting the income for Nasri on next years’ accounts. As the buying club you have to respect the wishes of the seller or it could affect future business.
I wouldn’t expect 2 massive clubs like Marseille and Arsenal to work to the timetable of impatient fans.
June 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm
passenal,
doesn’t make it any less of an anti-climax though.
the hold up has definitely taken the gloss of what should have been an exciting signing.
June 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Not sure Josh. I do remember Ryan Babel saying he’d love to join Arsenal, but signed for Liverpool as they had a firm interest in him.
I have a feeling Wenger will stick with his squad once he signs Nasri. If Adebayor does leave (would be surprising) I’d expect a replacement to come in. Someone like Roque Santa Cruz or Mario Gomez would fit the bill.
June 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm
mario gomez looks massively overrated to me. he is not a patch on adebayor. id also be thoroughly pissed off if we signed santa cruz as a replacement for ade.
basically, i dont think selling him is a good move.
June 25, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Something still tells me that there’s still another 2 players coming in, I don’t know why. Probably a fear of another trophy less season for Wenger. I personally feel that by the end of this summer with the signings Wenger makes he’ll feel he has a squad that could win the league or the Champions League.
June 25, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Or both.
June 25, 2008 at 5:47 pm
i tend to disagree marko, i can see wenger coming out with the normal gumph about how he believes in the squad and the young players and does not need to add in the positions he felt he needed to after last season.
i think there will be many a disappointed gooner come the end of the transfer window.
June 25, 2008 at 5:52 pm
You could be right. It’s just a feeling I have. I don’t think another midfielder will come in unless say Gilberto leaves as well as Hleb. If Adebayor leaves then a replacement will be bought. Just perhaps a defender will still be brought in. I’m not sure Gallas can keep consistent at 31 or 32. Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my behalf.
I still think we’ll be the dogs bollocks next season.
June 25, 2008 at 5:56 pm
wenger originally said he wanted a defender to help us defend long balls, but then a few weeks later said he wouldnt be signing a defender.
ramsey and nasri will replace flamini and hleb in the squad.
i hope adebayor stays, but even if he goes wenger may not buy anyone as we have added vela.
June 25, 2008 at 6:04 pm
OH YEAH!!!!
DD
June 25, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I’m still hoping Zapata comes or another equally promising defender. There’s still some business to be done for Wenger. If I’m hearing Milan are offering 28 mill for Ade and Arsenal want 31mill. I’d like to keep him but 31mill is a lot. Then again fuck those mafioso shits, we are not a selling club. WE’RE NOT. Who’d wanna play in the Uefa Cup next season and there’s no guarentee that they’ll make Champions League the following season with Juventus back in the top flight and Fiorentina and Udinese getting better.
June 25, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Im sure Wenger will buy another striker if Ade goes as although are striking options are good without Ade we lose a big presence i expect some one like Villa would come in as a replacement for Ade doesnt have to be a large target man as we already have Bendtner. If Villa were to arrive and Ade go i would be very pleased. A Striking combo of Villa and Bendtner and RVP and Eduardo will be awesome. IF Villa isnt signed as prob would be likely im sure Wenger will still sign a lesser known good quality player ala Eduardo.
June 25, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Why are they waiting until after the Euro’s as France are out, there’s no point, get the deal done now!
June 25, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Sous le regard bienveillant de Samir Nasri, qui venait “faire des premiers adieux à ses coéquipiers”, l’entraîneur olympien a procédé à une première revue d’effectif. “J’aurai fait une sélection avant le stage à Evian (du 6 au 14 juillet, NDLR), a indiqué Gerets. Je ne partirai pas avec tout le groupe”.
What does mean this?
June 25, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Under the watchful eye of Samir Nasri, who had just “make the first bid farewell to his teammates,” coach Olympian conducted a review of the first owner. “I made a selection before internship at Evian (from 6 to July 14, Ed),” said Gerets. I will not go with the entire group. “
June 25, 2008 at 7:22 pm
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June 25, 2008 at 7:26 pm
What I want to know is, is it possible to stream NewsNow and label
Libelfootball, Sporting Nope, Fans Fake Crap, and Caught Lying as SPAM ?
June 25, 2008 at 7:32 pm
There sure is mate.
Click Here.
June 25, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Excellent, many thanks Gooner Chris.
June 25, 2008 at 7:40 pm
No problems fella. Glad to help
June 25, 2008 at 8:45 pm
nas almost here and ram already whos next
June 26, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Today is Nasri’s birthday. Probably we will see him and Arséne Wenger with a cake and with a campagne with their hands.
Or we will wait until 2nd July. (Accodring the French Eurosport Website)
June 27, 2008 at 9:15 am
Go onto http://www.samirnasri.fr and then news and then interview, and its got a massive article from the marseilles manager.
Its very interesting, he talks about him as if he is arsenal player! can only be good news. He also says something about wenger at the bottom, but i couldn’t get an exact translation.
June 27, 2008 at 5:13 pm
[...] we revealed earlier yesterday afternoon, Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri had wished his L’OM team mates, [...]