I left Arsenal for Man City to win trophies - Gunners fans were stupid for abusing me

Arsenal and Manchester City are locked at the top of the Premier League table - for now

Samir Nasri once dubbed Arsenal fans "stupid" for abusing him over his transfer to Manchester City.

The former midfielder spent three seasons with the Gunners, joining from Marseille in 2008 for around £12million. Nasri made the move to City for £24m, winning two Premier League titles and a couple of domestic cups.

The ex-France international's transfer took place at a time that is now under close scrutiny. The Premier League stated the club have been found City guilty of 114 of 115 charges related to their financial rulings, with the club maintaining their innocence regarding these rule breaches.

Before this major bombshell dropped, Arsenal fans were angry about Nasri's transfer, not at the newly surfaced charges, but because he swapped the Emirates Stadium for a direct rival.

The now-39-year-old has been blunt about his thoughts on this abuse from supporters, claiming he can't understand the rage from north London. Discussing his move in 2014 with the Sunday People, Nasri said: "I just think the abuse I get is stupid. I’m not an Arsenal fan, I am not from London. To be honest we are players and we are just looking at what are the best interests for us and our careers.

"When Manchester City came for me it was the best choice to come here. Since coming to City I have won ­trophies and I have a better life so I am really happy about everything. If the fans can’t move on it’s too bad. I am not trying to have a problem with that. They do what they have to do and they love their club.

"They see that as a treason or that I betrayed them but it’s not that. I’m not like that. I just look what’s best for me and that’s what Bacary Sagna did, what Emmanuel Adebayor did and what Kolo Toure did. For the fans the only reason has to be for the money. But it isn’t just for the money.

"Of course, it’s a factor and it’s ­important. But if someone earns £200,000-a-week, £150,000 or £100,000-a-week, it’s not that which is going to make a difference or an ­impact on your life, so that’s not true."

At the time, Nasri wasn't keen on gloating about his medal haul to Arsenal fans - who were still awaiting their next major trophy to arrive. He added: "I don’t think it would be nice for me to do that. I am trying to be more mature and not to be involved in those things because I have had a lot of problems in the past. To say, ‘Look, I have won these trophies’ is not nice towards the Arsenal fans.

"I am in debt to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. I am this player today because of him. But I don’t think I need to explain myself. What I have achieved with Manchester City should be enough."

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