Pep Guardiola confirms Samir Nasri is set to leave Manchester City this summer

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is back and was part of the club’s tour of the United States after spending last season on loan at Sevilla. The French playmaker impressed many during preseason, including Pep Guardiola who revealed during a press conference that he wanted Nasri to stay last season before he went to Spain.

"We wanted to keep him last pre-season but he decided to go to Sevilla. I like to work with the guys who want to work with us. I saw him in these three games and his spirit in the training sessions. Still I’m waiting for a bad performance.”

But this was last season, and it appears that Nasri is surplus to requirements in the midfield position this season. Competing with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Yaya Touré and Ilkay Gundogan means the Frenchman would rarely feature for City. Pep mentioned these concerns as well.

"He knows the situation. We have a lot of midfield players. We’re going to see. It is like Mangala. That’s a decision they have to take with their [agents]. We take care of them when they are here. “

It looks clear that Nasri (and Eliaquim Mangala) will be sold before this window shuts and for the players that is probably a good thing. Nasri can still contribute to many teams and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Guardiola also denied the rumors that the squad was unhappy with Nasri’s arrogant attitude during the United States tour.

"He’s a guy who has unbelievable ability to keep the ball in small spaces. The ball is safe. He has his own special quality. I am so happy with how he is working.

The group are satisfied with him and his behaviour. I read that we were disappointed and people complained that he was here, but that's totally false, it's a lack of respect for one guy who always trained good, and his quality is there."

Source: Goal

No matter how much Pep likes Nasri, however, the Frenchman is not staying at City.