OPINION
There were no doubt many eyebrows raised when West Ham United completed the signing of Samir Nasri recently.
BBC Sport previously reported that the 31-year-old was on a deal that would keep him at the club until the end of the current season, a move that seemed wise considering that he had been out-of-action for 18 months due to a doping ban.
However, the former Manchester City player proved everybody wrong when he faced Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday – as his performance really did blow every one away.
He certainly did not look like a player who had not been on the football pitch for over a year, he dictated the play for long periods, and bamboozled Birmingham with his skill and trickery as well as his pace.
Nasri was playing like the Nasri we witnessed at City and Arsenal, and if he carries on playing like this, then Manuel Pellegrini must extend his stay at the London Stadium.
He fills the void left by Andriy Yarmolonko with ease, but the impact he has made and is likely to make based on this display surely warrants him staying longer than his current contract.
Surely Pellegrini would not want to see him leave if the signs are looking good for him?
Nasri was a class act against Birmingham – and even though they are a league below the Hammers, that does not stem away from the fact that he blew everyone away.
At 31, he still has few seasons left of playing, so there is no reason why the club should not capitalise on his current form.
He has the makings to be a fantastic player at West Ham – so they must make sure that the midfield dazzler can continue to make an impact by extending his stay in the summer.