Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has spoken of his respect for Arsene Wenger, heaping praise on his former manager.
The Frenchman has received intense criticism from Arsenal fans for his decision to leave the club for Eastlands, but Nasri had nothing but kind words for his former club and manager, insisting that Wenger was not the reason for his departure.
Speaking ahead of his side's trip to Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Nasri revealed the confidence gained from playing under the stewardship of his former boss and his enjoyment of the game whilst an Arsenal player.
"If I'm here today it's because of him. I'll never forget what he did for me," Nasri told The Sun.
"I owe him a lot. He gave me confidence not just as a player but as a man as well.
"That is why I really respect him and really like him because he cared about the men, not just about the players. For some managers they want you to be on the pitch and that is it.
"For him he wants to talk to you, to know a little more about you to give you the confidence, it was like a second love for me.
"I played fantastic football for three years and I learned how to play at a high level with a lot of Champions League and I was always in the race for the title."
Nasri also explained that his reason for leaving Arsenal was purely due to a desire to win silverware.
"It was a good challenge for me to come here and win titles because that is what I was missing at Arsenal," he added.
"Everything was great but I wanted titles.
"So I went to City because I wanted to make history and be part of history and that's what we did. It was 44 years after their last one and I'm very happy."
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