French tax authorities are pursuing former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri for €5.51 million (£4.80 million) in unpaid levies after citing 212 Deliveroo food orders to a Paris address as evidence contradicting his claimed Dubai residency.
The 38-year-old retired footballer insists he legitimately resides in the United Arab Emirates—which imposes no income tax—though investigators argue flight records and professional ties demonstrate his economic centre of life remains in France, where top earners face 45 per cent tax rates.
Paris criminal court granted officials permission last month to freeze Nasri’s accounts at prestigious Edmond de Rothschild bank whilst pursuing €5.25 million (£4.57 million) in unpaid income tax covering 2020-2022 alongside €82,000 (£71,000) property tax spanning 2019-2025.
Fiscal lawyers consulted by Les Echos described the bank account freeze and threatened property seizure as “exceptional” at such early proceedings stages, noting authorities must prove both French residency and that income was generated domestically.
Flight data examined by inspectors reveals Nasri spent 487 days in France between 2021-2023 compared with just 226 in the Emirates, with annual French visits ranging from 126 to 208 days whilst UAE stays varied between 42 and 124 days.
Beyond the Deliveroo delivery evidence—which the footballer’s lawyer questioned by asking “Did his mother place orders, his sister, his brother, his friends?”—authorities highlighted professional commitments including a Canal+ agreement for 40-45 football analyst appearances during 2021-22 alongside ownership stakes in French companies.
Lawyer Jean-Noël Sanchez dismissed the €5.5 million figure as “imaginary” whilst insisting his client “is a perfect French citizen” who properly declares earnings and pays tax on French-generated income.
“The problem is that France has decided for Mr. Nasri and others, for that matter, to attack all those who live in the United Arab Emirates,” Sanchez told the Associated Press, confirming Nasri resides in Dubai with his partner and their school-age son.
“He doesn’t live in France. I am an angry lawyer because the principle of presumption of innocence is being attacked,” Sanchez stated whilst challenging the seizure ruling.
France levies additional tax surcharges of 3 per cent above €250,000 (£217,000) and 4 per cent beyond €500,000 (£435,000) annually, making Dubai’s zero-tax environment attractive for high-earning athletes.
The seizure mechanism enables authorities to confiscate and sell Nasri’s apartment should he fail settling the disputed debt.
