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Samir Nasri has revealed that Pep Guardiola asked him to STAY at Manchester City before he left for Sevilla.

The Blues midfielder agreed a deadline day loan move to the Spanish club after sitting down with the manager – and it was presumed he had been told that he was surplus to requirements.

But Nasri said that Guardiola made a desperate attempt to get him to remain and fight for his place.

“Until the last moment he tried to get me stay, told me I was going to play, but I wanted a family club to give me love and a lot of minutes.

“I think that Sevilla can give me that. I did not open the door, quite the opposite.”

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Nasri was initially sent to train on his own when he reported back for pre-season, after tests showed he was overweight.

But he was brought in from the cold at the weekend, surprisingly included in Guardiola's matchday squad and then appearing as a substitute.

He said afterwards that he would sit down with the manager to discuss his future.

Nasri missed most of last season after suffering a horrendous thigh rupture that require over 100 stitches, external and internal.

“Last year was difficult for me, on and off the pitch, but now I really want to show my game in Seville.

“I feel well physically, I did pre-season and last Sunday I played a few minutes. I come with great enthusiasm after last season when injuries did not let me play as much as I wanted.”

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