We think it's fair to say that Samir Nasri is not having the easiest time of it at the moment.
After declaring that he'd never play for the French national team again a couple of weeks ago, he's officially put an end to his career with his country. Meanwhile, his playing time for Manchester City has been limited after a few niggling injuries and the signing of the impressive Raheem Sterling and, perhaps more importantly, the superb Kevin De Bruyne .
With De Bruyne in the form of his life, assisting and scoring at a rate of knots, Samir is going to struggle to displace him in the team in the near future. The Belgian's late winner against Sevilla in the Champions League has only cemented his spot at the heart of City's attack.
As such, Nasri might need a plan to reclaim his starting status. Some fans think he already has a special scheme in place, however. Oddly enough, it's to do with the former Arsenal man's new haircut.
Samir has recently got an extremely bold trim - it's a boyish, fair-haired, spiky number. We're not sure it's entirely fair to say it's just like De Bruyne's, with Kevin proudly rocking the ginger look. Still, there's a shapely resemblance - one which a lot of rival supporters have instantly jumped upon as proof of attempted camouflage.
The third international break of this intriguing Premier League season will be considered a disruptive element arriving at just the wrong moment by most Premier League bosses, but there is one, who may well be quite pleased it is upon us now.
For Manuel Pellegrini, sitting top of the pile with his Manchester City side, a break will give him crucial extra days to ease his missing stars back towards the first team. Neither David Silva nor Sergio Aguero have kicked a ball in anger for City since the demolition of Newcastle United on Oct. 3. In the meantime, the club has made itself comfortable at the top of the table.
Aguero's five-goal haul and Silva's virtuoso midfield performance in that game aided and abetted City's rise, but a great deal of the spadework since then has been done by other, less coveted, mortals in their absence. With Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool next up at the Etihad, however, there is every reason for Pellegrini to hope that the predictions of imminent comebacks are accurate.
Add the enforced absence of captain Vincent Kompany and it is perhaps worth underlining how well City have done to maintain their position, however slim the lead is at present. At the same time, the club has hoisted itself to the top of Champions League Group D after an ignominious start at home to Juventus. Having already qualified for the knockout stage with two games to play, City will want to finish the job professionally and end up top in December. This will allow them to avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern in the last 16, a luxury never before afforded them in this competition.
With three of City's next four games at home, this is the moment that the Chilean will be emphasising focus, drive and energy to his squad. After Liverpool's much anticipated visit, City travel to Turin for what has become a top of the table decider vs. Juventus, then entertain Southampton and Hull City, the latter in the quarterfinals of the League Cup.
Get that little lot right and December could dawn with City clear at the top of the Premier League, in the semifinals of the League Cup and well-placed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in their history. For all the talk of Arsenal's resurgence and Manchester United's newfound rigidity, it is City who may walk away heavy-handed when 2016 honours land.
With Silva and Aguero due back in the fold in time for Liverpool, City's squad is clearly stronger than their rivals'. The feeling that Arsenal maintain the fragilities of previous years and that United are already performing to the top of their ability will not go away. City, on the other hand, have shown their best form only in sporadic bursts and have yet to really hit their stride.
Pellegrini will look to stalwarts Pablo Zabaleta, who is also targeting the Liverpool game for a comeback, Kompany, Silva and Aguero to keep fit in the coming months and provide a springboard to what could easily become one of City's best ever seasons. With the side firing on all fronts, Pellegrini must pick and choose with care. He will be aware of what he thinks is his best side and will be looking forward to the day when he can actually field it without first talking to the physiotherapist for updates on tired hamstrings and creaking tendons.
Despite injuries to key players, Manuel Pellegrini still has Manchester City sitting atop the Premier League.
Although the likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Fernando and Jesus Navas have all stepped in and produced the goods, the taciturn Chilean will be thinking of Zabaleta, Kompany, Samir Nasri, Silva and Aguero as not only welcome squad additions, but returning foundation stones of what he is trying to build this season.
Given the luxury of choice, there remain one or two doubts as to the Chilean's first choice side. In Zabaleta's absence, Sagna has excelled at right back, with Aleksandar Kolarov similarly liberated on the other side by Raheem Sterling's darting presence. In the middle Kompany must surely look to Nicolas Otamendi as his partner. With the anchoring roles in midfield held by Yaya Toure and the outstanding Fernandinho, there is real competition for places up front, with Silva, Navas, Sterling, Nasri, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne competing for just four places.
With Sterling's positive effect on Kolarov noted, his role is vital, as is that of De Bruyne, who has been outstanding since his arrival from Wolfsburg in the summer. Aguero makes all the difference to the goals-for column and one can hardly deny Silva his place. All of this leaves the likes of Nasri, Navas, Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho looking in from the outside, hardly just reward for their efforts so far.
It is with this embarrassment of riches that Pellegrini will hope to tackle City's next four opponents. By then, with all the walking wounded back on board, Manchester City may be able to give us all a clear idea of what the 2015-16 season holds in store for them.
Nasri (hamstring) should be returning to full training in the upcoming days.
ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS
Nasri's return would leave manager Manuel Pellegrini with just Wilfried Bony side-lined after a injury prone past few months. He'll look to return to training and full fitness before possibly returning to the pitch in the next match against Liverpool.
Juventus and Inter Milan remain keen on a move for Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri, according to reports in Italy.
The Frenchman has failed to nail down a regular spot in Manuel Pellegrini's side this season following the summer arrivals of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
Both Juventus and Inter Milan enquired about Nasri in the summer but their proposals were swiftly rejected by City.
However, according to Calciomercato, the Italian duo are still keen on the Frenchman and are readying bids.
The player himself is reportedly undecided on his future and may prefer to remain at the Etihad for now.
But if he continues to be a bit-part player then Juve and Inter are ready to try and tempt him away with the offer of regular first-team football.
Manchester City pair Martin Demichelis and Samir Nasri are wanted men according to reports.
Manchester City stars Martin Demichelis and Samir Nasri are being linked with moves away from the Etihad.
Demichelis has effectively found himself as fourth-choice centre-back following the arrival of Nicolas Otamendi and the improved form of Eilaquim Mangala this season.
Nasri has found opportunities similarly hard to come by in midfield due to a combination of injury and the signing of Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne.
Demichelis, 34, is being linked with Argentine club Rosario Central in his home country.
Reports suggest that Rosario coach Eduardo Coudet, who played alongside Demichelis at River Plate, wants the Blues centre-half to fill the gap created by Alejandro Donatti's predicted departure.
Nasri said at the start of the campaign that he intended to fight for his place butCalciomercato.it report that both Juventus and Inter Milan are considering bids for the Frenchman who has only made one City start this season.
