The former Manchester City and Arsenal forward were banned for two years by the World Anti-Doping Agency after the intravenous treatment in Los Angels in 2016. The Frenchman who signed for the Hammers on a short deal is ready to relaunch his career after getting the second chance with the Londoners.
“I’m still disappointed about it because I didn’t take any substance. It was just the dosage of the vitamin that was too much. I could do it in two days but I did it in just one day and so I have regrets about it because I was sick. I had a doctor’s prescription, but it still hasn’t been accepted. This experience was the worst in my career. It was the worst feeling in the world.
“If you are not strong and you don’t have the support of your family and your friends, I really think you can go into depression because they take away what you love the most and it’s just gone like that. You don’t know if you’ll be able to it again.” Nasri told Sky Sports.
To him, the chance to get back to football is a blessing that he is not taking for granted and is ready to help the new teammates in various ways. Through the period of the ban, Nasri, a two-time Premier League winner said that he needed self-belief and confidence as he faced the most tempting part of his life.
“It changed me for the better and now I see things differently. Before sometimes you don’t know how blessed you are to do this job. Now, I just take one day at a time, try to enjoy it as much as possible and try to be as professional as I can be to help my team-mates because I thought at one point I’d lost it,” the 31-year old said.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, who’s going to do it for you. I’m a guy who is confident and football is like riding a bike, forget about it. Once you know how to do it you will always do it. The only thing is to get my fitness back and that’s it, but my mindset is I want to prove something to myself, prove that I’m back.” he said.
His return could see him face Arsenal when West Ham welcomes the Gunners at the London Stadium on Saturday