Roberto Mancini accuses Manchester City’s Samir Nasri of wasting his potential

Samir Nasri

Roberto Mancini has launched a scathing attack on his former charge Samir Nasri, telling reporters that the Manchester City has the potential to be a world-class player but that his attitude lets him down.

Accusing the French midfielder of settling “for the minimum,” Mancini admitted that it pains him to see Nasri, who he put a lot of effort into signing for City from Arsenal failing to live up to his potential, but believes that he “did not understand that you always have to give your best.”

“Samir is a player who has incredible qualities but a productivity that bears no comparison with his talent,” the former City manager, currently in charge of Turkish side Galatasaray, told French magazine So Foot Junior.

“He didn’t understand that you always have to give your best.”

“It really pains me. I did everything so that he’d come [to Manchester City] and he settled for the minimum.”

Such application issues mean that Nasri has found himself outside of the French national side, with Mancini believing that Didier Deschamps is unlikely to recall him for this summer’s World Cup.

“He’s a player who has the ability not to be a good player but to be a world-class player. What a pity that he won’t even play in the World Cup.”

Nasri’s form has improved this season, following the departure of Mancini, with the 26 year old netting six times in the league this season and creating 62 chances.

Nasri has created a chance every 33 minutes in the league this season.