Former professional footballer Samir Nasri has been the subject of ridicule online over his physical appearance.
Photos: Samir Nasri resurfaces from retirement in charity match
Nasri was part of a team assembled by his former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to compete at a UNICEF charity match held at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France, on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old shared the pitch with Chelsea icon Didier Drogba, who netted a hattrick and led his Olympique Marseille Legends team to a 7-4 victory over Wenger’s Team UNICEF.
However, Drogba’s incredible performance or the amazing display shown by football veteran Robert Pires, was the least trending topic on social media. Instead, football fans fretted over Nasri, who in his retirement, has gained weight.
Samir Nasri (34 years old) playing in a charity match today for Marseille Legends.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) October 13, 2021
He’s clearly enjoyed life since retiring less than a month ago. 😂 pic.twitter.com/0YkWvD9Vsw
Here’s how social media reacted to images of the overweight ex-footballer.
How can Samir Nasri be so fat? He retired just less than 2 years ago. I doubt if its even more than a year. pic.twitter.com/oGM2Z9zzGo
— J’Ovie (@KingEmma87) October 13, 2021
Samir Nasri vs Unicef highlights pic.twitter.com/vxMcs1YOHp
— 🇨🇭Regor🇮🇹 (@Regor_02) October 13, 2021
Samir Nasri is clearly enjoying retirement pic.twitter.com/DpjvgcpCyK
— British Gambler (@British_Gambler) October 13, 2021
What happened to Nasri?
Those who remember Nasri from his stint at Arsenal may have been left heartbroken with the way his career came to a screeching halt.
The Frenchman kicked off his top-tier football club career in the early 2000s, under the tutelage of Wenger. Years at the Gunners attracted the attention of Manchester City, who swooped him in 2011 for a record signing fee.
Nasri would go on to bag four prestigious titles with the blue Mancurians, including two Premier League trophies. Towards the end of his tenure at City, Nasri was loaned out to Sevilla for the remainder of La Liga’s 2016/2017 season.
The renowned skilful midfielder was, in the same season, scooped by Turkish side Antalyaspor on a permanent deal. However, he’d only stay at the club for a few months before his contract was terminated in January 2018, a month before he was hit with a six-month ban by UEFA for breaking the sport’s doping rules.
This set-back did not discourage West Ham from recruiting the wizard’s services for the 2018/2019 campaign but Nasri only spent one season at the Hammers before he moved to Belgium’s Anderlecht, where he saw out the rest of his professional career.
Today, Nasri enjoys life in retirement and his recent weight change is a clear sign that his days of worrying about keeping fit are well behind him.