Outraged Arsenal fans accused Samir Nasri of chasing a pay-packet when he left the Gunners in favour of joining Manchester City's revolution in 2011. The Frenchman has never really been popular with Gooners since then, who take delight in booing him whenever the two sides meet. And those who claim Nasri was just after better wages might have a point because City agreed to hike up his weekly salary to a reported £200,000-a-week back in July, putting the midfielder alongside David Silva as the Premier League champion's biggest earners. The ex-Gunner was previously earning £140,000-a-week prior to his new bumper deal, which was brought about due to a personally-successful campaign with the Citizens last season, in which Nasri scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions. The 27-year-old's new deal signifies how important he is to manager Manuel Pellegrini and, given his age, in sanctioning a brand-spanking new deal for Nasri, City will have on their books a player approaching the peak of his career over the course of his fresh five-year deal.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
