Samir Nasri reveals he almost died after being struck down with meningitis while at Marseille
Former Arsenal and Manchester City star claims no-one visited him in hospital as he battled to overcome deadly brain bug
SAMIR NASRI has revealed how he cheated death after being struck down with meningitis - and hardly anyone went to visit him in hospital.
Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Nasri has earned a reputation as being arrogant during a controversial career on and off the pitch.
And the ex-French international has revealed how there was a time he was seriously ill in hospital when he was left alone to battle for his life.
Nasri said: "Football is a hypocrite’s world. But I can look at myself in the mirror. I know that I remain dignified, that I remained myself.
"Some may say that I am arrogant or that I have my pride, but I am frank. If you like me, that’s alright, if you do not like me that’s alright too.
"But at least you know what to take from it. I ask the same thing from people, because I do not like the superego part of football."
Speaking to Canal +, Nasri added: "I used to be like that, and thought that everything was all perfect, when it is not. I came out disappointed.
"During my last year at Marseille, I was in the hospital for 12 days with meningitis, and I saw the actual side of people.
"I saw those who were there for me when everything was going well, when I was Marseille’s little prince, when I had played the season where I became an international.
"People were behind me then, but when I was sick for 12 days, with meningitis about to die, no one was there.
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"I noticed how things really were."
Nasri accepts that he has not made the most of his talent throughout his career, at club or international level.
Now playing in Turkey with Antalyaspor, the 30-year-old said: "Do I regret anything with the French national team; yes and no.
"Yes, because with my talent I could have achieved a lot more. The same could be said about my career in general.
"Could I have done better? Probably, yes. Actually, most certainly, because at certain times in my career I was not as professional as I could have been.
"Not on the pitch or in training, I was always professional there. But maybe my lifestyle choices were not as perfect as they could have been.
"Maybe then, my performances would have allowed me to reach the next level, because the talent, I most definitely had it."