Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri pulls out of working Champions League final as pundit
Samir Nasri has decided against covering this weekend's Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain after being scheduled to be on punditry duty for the French channel Canal+.
The 38-year-old, who spent three years at Arsenal before completing a controversial switch to Manchester City, was due to be pitchside for the much-anticipated clash in Budapest.
However, after the former midfielder was targeted by a section of PSG supporters during their semi-final clash against Bayern Munich, he has pulled out of working the final due to the nature of the abuse.
Nasri graduated from the academy system at Marseille, who are PSG's bitter rival. He went on to make over 100 appearances for the French club before joining Arsenal in the summer of 2008.
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Speaking in an interview with L'Equipe ahead of Saturday's showpiece event, Nasri claimed the fans “insulted his mother” during the Champions League game against Bayern.
"Yes, it's true. But it's part of the game as a former Marseille player to get insulted by Parisian fans. Even if I think they had other things to do, like celebrating qualifying for the final," he said.
"What bothered me was that they insulted my mother. That's not why I'm not going to Budapest for the final.
"It's not the first time I've been insulted in a stadium, and it certainly won't be the last. And if I let it get to me, I'd stop doing TV and I'd stop going to matches.
"It's PSG vs Arsenal, it's better to have Robert Pires, who's a die-hard Gunners fan, and David Ginola, who's a die-hard PSG fan, than someone neutral like me on the panel."
Nasri added that he "doesn't have an extraordinary relationship" with Arsenal's fanbase either.
Why Samir Nasri's relationship with Arsenal fans turned bitter
Shortly after leaving Arsenal for Manchester City, Nasri criticised his former club's fanbase.
"The City supporters are really passionate and it reminds me of [playing for] Marseille," he said. "Arsenal have good fans but they are not that passionate since they moved from Highbury to the Emirates.
"The crowd at City are amazing and that's what you want as a player – a good atmosphere.”
READ MORE: Arsenal fan was removed from Emirates Stadium after confrontation with Samir Nasri
Nasri, who also revealed his desire to win titles, was accused of joining City for financial reasons but the midfielder went on to lift two Premier League titles at the Etihad before leaving in 2017.
"I don't regret leaving Arsenal," he told beIN Sport in 2012. "I won the league while Arsenal have difficulty finishing fourth."
Topics: Arsenal, Man City, Samir Nasri, Champions League, PSG
Jack Kenmare