You're a liar! Nasri hits back at Mancini and praises former manager Wenger as his best-ever boss in further snub

By Andy James

Published: 18:29 EDT, 1 April 2013 | Updated: 03:05 EDT, 2 April 2013

Samir Nasri has labelled Roberto Mancini a liar after the Manchester City manager questioned his £24million man’s efforts in training.

The Frenchman has endured a difficult campaign with the Barclays Premier League champions and was damned with faint praise by Mancini after his impressive showing against Newcastle on Saturday.

Nasri turned in a man-of-the-match performance in City’s 4-0 win and the manager joked that he ‘wanted to give him a punch’ for only showing his best form in fits and bursts.

False accusations: Samir Nasri, who shone against Newcastle, has hit back at manager Roberto Mancini

‘I don’t know what the difference was today,’ Mancini said. ‘I can’t understand sometimes a player with his quality doesn’t play like today every game.

'I think that the second year is always difficult to win again. And sometimes a player can think it is enough to play 50 per cent. Probably we had this problem this year.’

But speaking on French television channel beIN Sport on Monday night, Nasri hit back.

He said: ‘I am aware that I have not had a good season. There are many reasons for this. But when Mancini said that I’m training at 50 per cent, this is not true.’

Swipe: Mancini had blasted Nasri for only putting '50 per cent' effort in in training

In another thinly veiled swipe at Mancini, Nasri heaped praise on former boss Arsene Wenger, under whom he was first given a chance in the Premier League in 2008 with Arsenal.

The France forward spent three years at the Emirates Stadium but left in 2011 - a decision which continues to sit uncomfortably with Gunners fans.

But the 25-year-old says he has no regrets about the decision to turn his back on ‘the greatest coach he ever worked with’, insisting his decision to move north was not based on money.

Star man: Nasri put in an impressive display in City's ruthless 4-0 demolition of Newcastle on Saturday

He added: ‘Arsene Wenger is the greatest coach I have worked with. He is the one who understands me the most, he made me realise my potential.

'I am grateful to him for the role he played in my career. I only regret not having more discussions with him when I left.

‘I do not have other regrets. I do not regret joining Manchester City. I want to play and perform, and my departure from Arsenal is purely for sporting reasons.

Mentor: Nasri said Arsene Wenger, watching Arsenal's win over Reading, was his best-ever manager

‘When you compare Arsenal and City, it’s not the same. With City I’m playing in a better team, I won the title, and Arsenal fight to qualify for the Champions League. I didn’t leave for money.

‘Even when I left, I was in training well. All went well with the manager because he knows I showed professionalism.’

And in a move which likely enrage fans even further, Nasri claims he was forced out of the club because unpopular owner Stan Kroenke wanted to cash in a player who had one year left on his deal.

The real story: Nasri claimed he was forced out of Arsenal by billionaire owner Stan Kroenke

‘Cesc (Fabregas, who quit for Barcelona the same summer) or me were supposed to leave,’ he explained. ‘Arsene told me that if Cesc would leave, I would stay. ‘But Kroenke could not ignore the transfer fee.’

Nasri also dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from England this summer, despite interest from his homeland.

‘There is nothing going on with Monaco, nor with PSG,’ he concluded.