Ex-Manchester City ace Samir Nasri snubs Marseille return and will only go back to Ligue 1 side as coach
Samir Nasri will not return to Marseille as he would rather leave on a high, but would consider eventually returning to the Ligue 1 side in a coaching role, or as sporting director
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SAMIR NASRI has ruled out returning to Marseille to play for the club where he cut his teeth and is not convinced by their ambitions plans to compete with Paris Saint Germain.
He started his career in his hometown club, before moving across the channel and signing for Arsenal in 2008, but is not rushing back to the French province.
The ex-Manchester City midfielder ended his six-year spell at the Ethiad when he was sold for just £3million this summer.
It was a far cry from the fee that City paid Arsenal to secure him in 2011, some eight times less.
Signing a two-year deal for Turkish side Antalyaspor still didn't put the rumours of a return to Marseille to bed.
But Nasri has now silenced the rumours by categorically stating that he will not return unless it is in a coaching capacity, once he has hung up his boots.
The former French international told Canal plus that a return to the French side would not be a good move, he said: "It's better to leave a good impression.
"You never know how it's going to go."
He did, however, confirm that there was potential to return to Marseille in another high-profile role.
"I would really like to coach. Perhaps coach or sporting director, in any case, do something in football, that's for sure."
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Marseille currently sit in third position, six points behind PSG- the French powerhouse.
Nasri is not convinced by Marseille's 'champions project' as the side from Southern France cannot compete with the cash injections of PSG.
He said: "I think they got a bit carried away with the name of the project.
"When you see Paris recruit Neymar and Mbappe, you say to yourself, 'They lied to us'. It's a shame."