Former Manchester City and Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested in France on suspicion of money laundering. Nasri, 39, spent 10 hours in police custody in Paris on Thursday before being released without charge, according to reports in Le Parisien.
This marks Nasri's second arrest related to the matter, following an initial questioning in Marseille in late June. The former France international was reportedly interrogated as part of a significant investigation into organized crime, which includes allegations of drug importation, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering linked to drug trafficking. The investigation is reportedly centered on Karim Berrebouh, an imprisoned drug trafficker from Marseille, and Olivier Sabbah, a key figure involved in laundering proceeds from Berrebouh's criminal activities.
The inquiries into Nasri specifically surround the alleged money laundering aspect of the case, with connections to a nightclub named XS in Ivry-sur-Seine. Nasri had invested hundreds of thousands of euros into the nightclub while playing for Manchester City and later became a co-owner. His business partner at the nightclub, Bilele Z, was also reportedly arrested on Thursday.
Part of the probe, conducted by the Financial Investigation and Research Brigade of the Paris Judicial Police, is believed to be linked to the wife of convict Berrebouh. She is alleged to have visited the nightclub on several occasions to withdraw sums of money while her husband was incarcerated.
During his interrogation, Nasri reportedly claimed he had sold all his shares in the nightclub to Berrebouh, though this agreement was said to have remained verbal. Daily Mail Sport has contacted Nasri's lawyer and the Paris Judicial Police for comment.
Nasri had a decade-long career in England, playing for West Ham, Manchester City, and Arsenal. He earned 41 caps for France and played 129 times for Manchester City, scoring 18 goals. He also scored 18 goals for Arsenal. His most successful period was with City, where he won the Premier League twice, the League Cup, and the Community Shield. He also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup with his boyhood club, Olympique Marseille.