Samir Nasrih

Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987) is a French footballer who plays for Arsenal in the Premier League and the France national football team.

A youth product of Marseille, Nasri plays primarily as a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield in the absence of Cesc Fàbregas due to injury. During his time at boyhood club Marseille, Nasri's Algerian background, technical prowess and playmaking on the field earned him direct comparisons to French football great Zinedine Zidane – and the mantle of the 'French Pele'. In December 2010, he was named the French Player of the Year for his performances during the calendar year.

Nasri was a regular for France at the youth level and was a member of the country's UEFA Euro 2008 squad, though he saw limited playing time.

Nasri's parents moved to France from Algeria. His father is from Constantine and his mother is a native of Biskra. Nasri grew up in La Gavotte Peyret, a northern suburb of Marseille. He often played on the streets, where he learned many of his skills. His parents signed him up to the football club Pennes Mirabeau at the age of six. He spent two seasons at Pennes before being scouted by Olympique de Marseille in 1996.