The rumour of his impending transfer has grown so strong that the number of mentions grows almost exponentially. Every time a paper writes about Arsenal, it mentions Nasri leaving. Every time a paper writes about Manchester City, it mentions Nasri coming in.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is every bit as sick of the will he-won't he situation as Gooners are. Thinly veiled attacks on his superiors give away his deep frustration. His target was to have been signed weeks and months ago. Instead, Arsenal aren't giving up ground.
Yesterday, during the game against Liverpool, no less, French TV station Canal+ claimed that the deal was falling apart. Agent fees were to blame, they reported. This piece by French-based football writer Ben Lyttleton repeats the theory that long-standing animosity between Arséne Wenger and Nasri's agent Jean-Pierre Bernes is behind the many twists and turns of the contract negotiations and any transfer deal.
Today, after beating Bolton, Mancini spoke to Sky Sports to say he hoped Nasri would arrive within the next few days.
At the same time, French national broadcaster TF1 has spoken to Wenger. His answers are echoes of the steadfastness in Arsenal's stance in the negotiations.
"He is happy here. There is no departure of Nasri at the moment. Maybe one day, but it's far, far, far from being done."
Last week, the negotiations over Cesc Fábregas had a similar pattern. Arsenal's denials were almost comical to read, but for Barcelona they were a clear signal to pay up or shut up. Wenger's latest quotes about Nasri's 'happiness' have the same goal.
On the pitch for 90 minutes in the defeat by Liverpool yesterday, Nasri at least felt some love from the crowd. Whether this love is unexpectedly reciprocated, remains to be seen.
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