Former Arsenal star drops out of Champions League final after ‘abuse’ fears from PSG fans

Arsenal will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest and Samir Nasri has opened up on his decision not to attend as a pundit

Former Arsenal star Samir Nasri will not be in attendance as a pundit at the Champions League final, having opened up about the abuse he has previously received from Paris Saint-Germain supporters.

The Gunners face PSG in the showpiece event in Budapest on Saturday evening as they bid to secure their first-ever European Cup triumph.

Mikel Arteta's side secured their place in the final at the Puskas Arena in Hungary after overcoming Atletico Madrid in the last four.

Arsenal will be looking to beat PSG, who lifted the trophy last year for the first time in the French club's history, having knocked out Bayern Munich in their semi-final clash.

Nasri has been a regular pundit for Canal+ throughout their Champions League coverage this season, featuring during the semi-final between PSG and Bayern Munich.

The former Gunners midfielder made 125 appearances for Arsenal between 2008 and 2011, before moving to Manchester City, where he went on to make a further 176 appearances.

Nasri arrived at Arsenal from PSG's fierce rivals Marseille, and the 38-year-old has now addressed his choice to avoid being pitchside as a pundit for the Champions League final.

Rather than attending the stadium, Nasri will instead be working from the studio for Canal+, and spoke honestly about the abuse he faced from PSG supporters during the semi-final against Bayern.

“Yes, it’s true. But it’s part of the game as a former Marseille player to get insulted by Parisian fans,” Nasri told L’Equipe.

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“Even though I think they had other things to do, like celebrating qualifying for the final. However, that’s not why I’m not going to Budapest for the final.

“It’s PSG-Arsenal, it’s better to have Robert Pires, who’s a die-hard Gunners fan, and David Ginola, who’s a die-hard PSG fan, than someone neutral, like me, on set. Arsenal is also my former club, but I don’t have an extraordinary relationship with its fans.”

He added: “When I was a player, I got insulted too, even on opposing pitches. What bothered me was that they insulted my mother, even though, well, you've qualified for the final, you celebrate with your players!

“It's not the first time I've been insulted in a stadium, and it certainly won't be the last. And if I let it get to me, I'd quit TV and I'd quit going to matches.”