Guardiola: Nasri not playing in preseason because he's overweight
SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says midfielder Samir Nasri hasn't featured yet in the pre-season friendlies because he is overweight.
Nasri was not in the France squad for the European Championship so returned to pre-season training at City having not played since May.
Guardiola says "Samir arrived a little bit overweight ... but he's much, much better now."
City's new manager hopes the 29-year-old Nasri will have lost the excess weight in two weeks.
Speaking after City beat Borussia Dortmund on penalties in a friendly on Thursday, Guardiola said there's "still a little bit of weight. And last season he was overweight and he was injured all the season. We want to avoid that."
Guardiola has reportedly barred Manchester City players from eating pizza and other junk food to keep them fit.
