Samir Nasri has allegedly demanded just short of £100kpw to sign for West Ham as he looks to rebuild his career following a lengthy ban for doping.
Nasri, who is now 31, has not played since November 2017, but his ban, which was extended by six months, ended on 1 November, allowing him to find a new club.
The former Arsenal and Manchester City forward was unable to play or train after his ban was backdated to July 2017, even though Nasri played after that date. In total, he made eight appearances for his last club, Antalyaspor.
Nasri was handed his original ban back in February and it would have ended on 1 August 2018 had Uefa’s ethics and disciplinary inspector not been successful with his appeal over what he believed to be an ‘insufficient’ ban.
A Uefa statement said: “The Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s decision of 22 February 2018 is amended as follows: 1. The player Samir Nasri is suspended for eighteen (18) months. This suspension will start running on 1 July 2017. 2. The player Samir Nasri is allowed to return to training, with any football club starting from 1 November 2018.”
Nasri has reportedly told advisors that he would like a move to the MLS, but they are unable to afford the £5m-a-year that he is allegedly demanding.
Everton were also linked with a move but when manager Marco Silva discussed the player with his backroom staff they reportedly came to the conclusion he did not fit the profile of the type of player they were looking for.
West Ham’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini, worked with Nasri when the pair were at Manchester City and he is believed to be in search of more firepower for his frontline.
Nasri has been without a club since 31 January 2018.
Why was he banned in the first place?
by Nia Griffiths
Samir Nasri initially received a six-month ban after visiting Drip Doctors in Los Angeles on Boxing Day 2016.
Nasri was slapped with a six-month ban after violating the World Anti-Doping Code and Uefa’s anti-doping regulations.
“The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has rendered its decision following disciplinary proceedings opened on 6 March 2017 against the player Samir Nasri for violation of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations,” Uefa confirmed, reported L’Equipe at the time.
“The player Samir Nasri has been found guilty for using a prohibited method in accordance with sub-section M2, par. 2 of the WADA Prohibited List.
“In this context, the CEDB has decided to suspend Samir Nasri for six (6) months for violation of the World Anti-doping Code and the UEFA Anti-doping Regulations.
“This decision was taken on 22 February and is open to appeal.”
The reason Nasri’s little visit from Drip Doctors was taken so seriously by Uefa is because the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibit this treatment in quantities of more than 50 milliliters per six-hour period.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the ex-Arsenal winger’s appeal against the investigation in January, which allowed Uefa to continue looking into the case.
Samir Nasri hasn't looked himself tonight. Might need another trip to the Drip Doctors. pic.twitter.com/Dlccev6fkV
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 14, 2017
According to the Guardian, Nasri received 500 milliliters of hydration in the form of sterile water containing micronutrient components on December 26, 2016, while on holiday.
Nasri apparently invited Drip Doctors’ co-founder Jamila Sozahdah to his hotel room in L.A. because he was feeling ill and vomiting.