Samir Nasri has withdrawn from his Canal+ punditry role for Arsenal’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday.
The former Arsenal midfielder had been due to work on French television coverage of the final, but has now stepped away from the assignment after recent abuse from PSG supporters.
Nasri said the personal nature of the abuse bothered him, while also explaining that Robert Pires and David Ginola were better suited to the panel for a final involving their former clubs.
Why Samir Nasri has stepped away from Arsenal v PSG coverage
Canal+ had finalised its coverage plans for Saturday’s final, with Nasri set to feature as part of its coverage.
But the 38-year-old has withdrawn from the role after being targeted by PSG fans during their semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Nasri told L’Equipe that he is used to criticism as a former Marseille player, but said things went too far when supporters brought his family into it.
He said: “What bothered me was that they insulted my mother.”
However, he also made clear that the abuse was not the reason he would not travel to Budapest for the final.
Nasri explains why Pires and Ginola make more sense for the panel
Nasri said Robert Pires and David Ginola were better suited to the panel because of their stronger emotional links to the two clubs.
He described Pires as a committed Arsenal figure and Ginola as a committed PSG figure, while presenting himself as a more neutral presence despite his Arsenal past.
Nasri’s connection to Arsenal is well-known, but it is not without complications.
The midfielder made 125 appearances for Arsenal between 2008 and 2011 before leaving for Manchester City.
Marseille connection adds context to PSG fan reaction
The tension with PSG fans is not just about his Arsenal past.
Nasri came through Marseille’s academy and played 166 matches for the club before moving to north London.
Marseille and PSG are fierce rivals, and that history gives important context to the hostility he has faced before the final.
While his time at Arsenal makes the story relevant in England, his Marseille roots are the clearer source of tension with PSG supporters.
Arsenal and PSG head into Budapest with another subplot
The final itself remains the main event, with PSG facing Arsenal in the Champions League showpiece at the Puskas Arena.
ESPN also lists the final as taking place in Budapest on Saturday, adding to the current match details around the fixture.
Nasri will no longer be part of the Canal+ coverage, and his explanation has made clear that the decision is tied to both recent abuse and the make-up of the panel.
For Arsenal and PSG, it adds another broadcast subplot before a final that already carries major sporting weight.
Read more:
