Former France midfielder Samir Nasri announced on Sunday that he was officially retiring from professional football after a career that started in 2004.

Nasri, 34, served an 18-month doping suspension from 2018, an episode that he said changed his way of seeing football.

"It was just an injection of vitamins because I was sick," the former Olympique de Marseille, Arsenal and Manchester City player, whose career effectively ended last year after a short stint at Anderlecht, told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper.

He scored five goals for France and picked up 41 caps between 2007 and 2013.

Former France midfielder Samir Nasri announced on Sunday that he was officially retiring from professional football after a career that started in 2004. Nasri, 34, served an 18-month doping suspension from 2018, an episode that he said changed his way of seeing football.

Former France midfielder Samir Nasri announced on Sunday that he was officially retiring from professional football after a career that started in 2004. Nasri, 34, served an 18-month doping suspension from 2018, an episode that he said changed his way of seeing football. "It was just an injection of vitamins because I was sick," the former Olympique de Marseille, Arsenal and Manchester City player, whose career effectively ended last year after a short stint at Anderlecht, told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper. He scored five goals for France and picked up 41 caps between 2007 and 2013.

Former Manchester City star Samir Nasri retires from football

Samir Nasri has joined Premier League club West Ham United after returning from a year-long doping ban.&nbsp;

Nasri has agreed to a deal with West Ham to the end of this season with the option to extend beyond June 2019.&nbsp;

The 31-year-old has returned to the Premier League after spells with Arsenal and Manchester City. In total, he made 215 PL appearances, scoring 36 goals and providing 38 assists.&nbsp;

"Following a successful period of training at Rush Green, the French midfielder has joined the Hammers on an initial contract until the end of the 2018-19 season, with the option to extend his stay in east London," read a statement on the West Ham website.&nbsp;

He will also reunited at London Stadium with Manuel Pellegrini, who managed him when he and City claimed their second PL title.&nbsp;

"Samir will give us another dimension in our attacking play," the West Ham manager said.&nbsp;

Nasri's original six-month ban for a drip treatment that contravened World Anti-Doping Agency rules was increased to 18 months in August after an appeal by UEFA's ethics and disciplinary inspector.

The former France international joined Spanish side Sevilla on a season-long loan in 2016 before sealing a permanent switch to Antalyaspor, who he left by mutual consent.

Samir Nasri has joined Premier League club West Ham United after returning from a year-long doping ban. Nasri has agreed to a deal with West Ham to the end of this season with the option to extend beyond June 2019.

Samir Nasri has joined Premier League club West Ham United after returning from a year-long doping ban. Nasri has agreed to a deal with West Ham to the end of this season with the option to extend beyond June 2019. The 31-year-old has returned to the Premier League after spells with Arsenal and Manchester City. In total, he made 215 PL appearances, scoring 36 goals and providing 38 assists. "Following a successful period of training at Rush Green, the French midfielder has joined the Hammers on an initial contract until the end of the 2018-19 season, with the option to extend his stay in east London," read a statement on the West Ham website. He will also reunited at London Stadium with Manuel Pellegrini, who managed him when he and City claimed their second PL title. "Samir will give us another dimension in our attacking play," the West Ham manager said. Nasri's original six-month ban for a drip treatment that contravened World Anti-Doping Agency rules was increased to 18 months in August after an appeal by UEFA's ethics and disciplinary inspector. The former France international joined Spanish side Sevilla on a season-long loan in 2016 before sealing a permanent switch to Antalyaspor, who he left by mutual consent.

Samir Nasri joins West Ham on return from doping ban

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Former Manchester City star Samir Nasri retires from football

Samir Nasri joins West Ham on return from doping ban