Maybe "Silent Stan" is not so silent after all. If Samir Nasri is to be believed, it is Arsenal majority owner Stan Kroenke who forced his move to Manchester City in the summer of 2011, with Arsene Wenger left with no say in the matter.
Nasri is one of the most unpopular players among Arsenal fans, due to the manner in which he left the club, while also making comments that were deemed unnecessary following his departure.
However, things might not be so black and white after all, with the France international claiming it was Kroenke who had the final say in the transfer, while Wenger wanted him to stay at the Emirates, following the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.
"Wenger told me that, if Cesc left, I would stay but Kroenke wanted the money," Nasri told beIN Sport.
"The coach told me we'll only take Gervinho, Cesc was already gone, I had only one year left so I decided to leave."
Now, the widespread thought was that Nasri had told Wenger he would leave if Fabregas left for Barca; and that is exactly what happened, with Arsenal forced to sell after the former Marseille man refused to sign a new contract.
Manchester City were on a major spending spree and offered £24 million ($36.5 million) for Nasri, who had only a year remaining on his deal.
If indeed Kroenke stepped in and decided to let go of one of Arsenal's best players, a few days after losing their best player in Fabregas, then the interference from the board will be seen by the Gooners, already angry with the hierarchy, as yet another proof of warranting a change.
But then, there is another school of thought -- that Nasri might be trying to manufacture a move back to Arsenal, after seeing his career at City seriously stunted, despite having won the English Premier League title last season.
City manager Roberto Mancini has criticized Nasri on several occasions, saying the player only gave his 50 percent in training, which the former Arsenal playmaker vehemently denied.
"I am aware that I do not realise a good season," Nasri added. "There are many reasons. But when Mancini said that I'm training at 50 percent this is not true.
"I felt comfortable against Newcastle (at the weekend). It's been a while since I felt good.
"I do not have regrets. I do not regret joining Manchester City. I want to play and perform. My departure from Arsenal was purely for sporting reasons."
There is little doubt that the Nasri at Arsenal and the one at City are not the same players, and the Frenchman said Wenger was by far the greatest coach he has worked under.
"Arsene Wenger is the greatest coach I have worked with. I only regret not having more discussions with Arsene Wenger when I left (for City)," he said.
"He's the one who understood me the most and made me the player I am. I'm thankful."
