Gallas: Nasri snub 'a shame'

Published Nov. 22, 2010 12:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tottenham defender William Gallas was unfazed by a rift with Samir Nasri, which saw them refuse to shake hands before the north London derby.

Gallas captained Spurs to a memorable 3-2 win at his former club Arsenal on Saturday.

Prior to kick-off Nasri blanked Gallas, as the two continued a spat which dates back to 2008 when they fell out on international duty with France.

When the pair were together at Arsenal for 12 months they never spoke, and Gallas says he did not expect anything else.

"Yes, Nasri snubbed me but I think that he's still young, you have to understand him," he told the Sun.

"It's a shame that he reacted this way. Yes, let's just say it's a shame for him."

Gallas received a hostile reception on his return to his former club, and added: "I knew it would be like this.

"But when you are a professional player you should expect this kind of reception.

"I actually found that the fans were kind to me, considering I played four years there."

Nasri took the chance to swipe at Gallas for moving to Arsenal's biggest rivals.

"There are always ups and downs in life but I have a lot of respect for the way a player stays loyal to his club," he said.

"I cannot see myself going and joining the sworn enemy. There are loads of other clubs, other clubs in London. But going to Tottenham? No I cannot see it at all."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp joked: "I thought about making him captain on Friday as I thought Nasri might be captain for them.

"So they would have to shake hands and then we could get them in a room before the game and William could bash him up or something! I made William captain because he would be coming back to Arsenal and it was a good gesture.

"I thought he deserved it the way he's played and, to be fair, little Luka Modric is captain sometimes but he is quiet and doesn't say much.

"William led by example. He responded well. I'll look at sticking with him as captain, especially after this win.

"William has come in and done a good job for us. He came on a free, on half his wages at Arsenal, and he's shown some character to do that.

"There was no way he was going to go 'I can't go to Spurs, I've played for Arsenal'. He's a footballer, he's played at Chelsea, Arsenal and now Spurs. There is nothing wrong in that.

"I wasn't bothered he didn't shake hands with Nasri. I think it is petty really, I don't know what their problems were, they had an argument?

"Players shaking hands before the game is a bit silly anyway? Half of them don't look at each other."