...the worst thing that could happen to Man City


Muslim Anelka to quit England

By Steve Stammers, Evening Standard
10 June 2004

The bizarre career of Nicolas Anelka took another amazing twist today when he said he would probably quit English football after converting to Islam.

Anelka claimed he was ready to walk out on his six-year contract with Manchester City and play for a team in the United Arab Emirates.

The former French international, whose career has been littered with fall-outs with clubs and managers, has spent the last week in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Yesterday he was thought to have been in Mecca, the holiest place of worship in the Islamic faith.

He told France Football magazine: "I am ready to stay here and to play for a club in the Emirates. I am not keen to go back to England or France."

Anelka was speaking after his official conversion to Islam, and at the Al-Wassl mosque in UAE read out several verses of the Koran in front of two muftis, senior legal figures in the community who specialise in advising on the Islamic holy book.

The 25-year-old has spoken before about his interest in the religion. In 1999, he said he was inspired by his boyhood friends in the working class community of Trappes, on the outskirts of Paris.

"The Muslim religion interests me," he said. "When I'm in Trappes, I hang out with Muslims and we discuss it a lot. In the summer we're outdoors until 4am, so we have the time to talk.

"I listen to them in order to understand and learn, just like Roberto Baggio on Buddhism. It opens your mind and the subject fascinates me, just like astronomy does."

Earlier this year, it was reported he had visited the state-funded school in London founded by Yusef Islam, formerly the singer Cat Stevens.

Now it appears his conversion is now complete and a new chapter is about to start in his controversial life.

Many thought the talented striker might be representing France at Euro 2004 but after falling out with the previous manager Roger Lemerre, current boss Jacques Santini refused to have him back, despite Anelka making an apology.

He signed for City two summers ago for £13million but last season he appeared unsettled again.

He first came to English football as an 18-year-old when Arsene Wenger spotted his talent.

He helped Arsenal to the Double in 1998 but alienated fans by demanding to leave for Real Madrid, to whom he was sold for more than £23m, a profit of more than £22m.

Controversy there led to a move to Paris St Germain and he came close to joining Liverpool after a loan spell at Anfield.

But thoughts of a permanent deal were abandoned when he clashed with Gerard Houllier before he revived his career at City.


http://www.thisislondon.com/sport/football/articles/11255446?source=Evening%20Standard

Good riddance, get the **** out. :rockman:

:confused:


Man this guy has had a weird career.

rofl.:rofl:

Whatever floats his boat I guess.

Whoa, man. Can you say bizarre?

how ****in sad :nape:

I think he'd look funny as hell in a turban, Photoshop anyone? (H)

heh lol! Poor City. :D

oh, Anelka is crazy :crazyboy:

so much talent wasted... he's only 25 :kader:

Yea, it's amazing to think he's still only 25, when he looks like some washed up 35 year old player.

i bet City go for Kanu now

Change of pace. Kanu isn't crazy.

As requested:

Meh, one more attempt.

think Anelka would go for something like this?

ROFL :rockman: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :funny:

Originally posted by rony31
think Anelka would go for something like this?

Now that's the ****.(H)

that has got to be one of the weirdest stories i have read in a long time...

Is he taking all of his Muslim friends living in england with him?

they must be offering a crapload of money

Originally posted by rony31
think Anelka would go for something like this?

Bwahaha.

Like valioso said, I wouldn't be surprised if the UAE league were offering him bucket loads of money to play in that league.

damn, those pics with the turbins...were they really necessary?

Rony, that is the funniest damn thing I have seen in awhile.

yeah. why insult him on his religion?

:kader:

btw, he has rubished the reports about him moving to UAE.

Originally posted by Shevchenko-[7]
yeah. why insult him on his religion?

:kader:

btw, he has rubished the reports about him moving to UAE.
Because people asked to make the pics.

thats the most bizarre and random thing i've ever heard in a long time..... I expect no less from Anelka though.

What a character. Gotto love him.

What I find very strange is that he "wants" to play in UEA. Maybe he said the opposite, so thats good. Appart from that, I find nothing strange in what he did. He was interested in islam, and that has lead to his conversion.

Those turban pics might be funny, but damn stupid.


Here's what I found :

“Frankly I cannot understand how such things were allowed to be written.

“I went to Dubai on holiday for 10 days with my buddies and visited Al-Wassal club out of courtesy after an invitation to meet their players.

“I am under contract with City and flatly deny what was printed in France Football.”

I wonder where France Football got their quote from.

wait a second... If he switches religion to islaml hes crazy? Is THAT how this board operates? pfff. And WTF would he wear a turban if hes a muslim? Turbans are worn by people in India adn something, not in ARAB countries, which im sure UAE and Saudia Arabia are... :kader: :kader: :kader:

Anelka would have been crazy by moving away from a top league to play in the UAE at 25. Not converting to Islam, converting to Islam is by no means crazy.

It's crazy to give up all that fame for 2 minutes everyweek on "football asia"

Originally posted by Omi
wait a second... If he switches religion to islaml hes crazy? Is THAT how this board operates? pfff. And WTF would he wear a turban if hes a muslim? Turbans are worn by people in India adn something, not in ARAB countries, which im sure UAE and Saudia Arabia are... :kader: :kader: :kader:

I don't think no one here was knocking him for switching religion, it was more leaving The Premiership to play in the UAE.

Originally posted by manutd4eva
I don't think no one here was knocking him for switching religion, it was more leaving The Premiership to play in the UAE.

I can't agree more ; it's very strange.

I first tought (like Omi maybe) that it was because he changed his religion.

However, it looks like some bad rumours made by the stupid france football, angry to see Anelka not givin a sh!t about France :funny:

Spite also comes to mind.

heey islam is cool... i wanna convert

except if I had a contract with Man City, I would not be a dumass and stay...

as somebody else said, whatever floats his boat I guess

Nic's a cupid stunt. Ronnie O'Sullivan converts to Islam and stays in England.

Meanwhile Anelka beggars off. Gerr'out, son!

He's off to Saudi Arabia for a big pay day, I reckon.

The story is tosh, though.

Ben :kader:

Can't believe this guy, he just can't settle in anywhere. His attitude has totally ruined his career at his age already.

TAlk about throwing your career away!

Why would he leave EPL to play in UAE at this age...:confused:

why waste ur carrer what an idiot.

what the hell is with the turbans?

Someone mentioned why insult him on his religion, but you guys were so racist and ignorent that you couldn't even do that properly. Since when do muslims wear turbans?

I also read that that article is bull****, it's all lies according to Anelka

it was a joke for focks sake

i dont think anelka even knows whats going on. He's probably hopped up on asprin because he cant get his hands on some real drugs.

ROFLMAO!!!:funny: Those turban pics are hilarious. L'enfant terribile's life takes another turn.

Originally posted by rony31
think Anelka would go for something like this?

LOL Fu**in Great!! :rofl::rofl:

Originally posted by Fener_Bahce
Since when do muslims wear turbans?

http://goddoubleplusblessamerica.org/jest/hitlers/adolf-hitler-osama-bin-laden-al-qaeda-2001.jpg

Originally posted by Gerrard 17
http://goddoubleplusblessamerica.org/jest/hitlers/adolf-hitler-osama-bin-laden-al-qaeda-2001.jpg
Ahahahahaha....:rofl:

Originally posted by rony31
think Anelka would go for something like this?

Originally posted by Gerrard 17
http://goddoubleplusblessamerica.org/jest/hitlers/adolf-hitler-osama-bin-laden-al-qaeda-2001.jpg

:rofl:

(H)

:rofl:

yah we got the point.

The brits have really showed their class in this forum;)

It was kinnda actually funny the first 15 times.

Well say he does go to UAE and is the first muslim to wear a "turban" at least he won't have to worry about catholic priests molesting his children.

Why are you so offended by this.

Do you have to take it so ****in serious?

:rolleyes: Hey guys that pretty funny.......stereotyping muslims by dress has not been thousands of times since sept.11, please, please leep posting pictures of Anelka in a turban.:rolleyes:

You guys are ******* wankers in my honest opinion, with the giant dick Shokz as your figure-head.



Anyway, we are one step closer to taking control of the UK. (H)

Originally posted by AhmedK
:rolleyes: Hey guys that pretty funny.......stereotyping muslims by dress has not been thousands of times since sept.11, please, please leep posting pictures of Anelka in a turban.:rolleyes:

You guys are ******* wankers in my honest opinion, with the giant dick Shokz as your figure-head.



Anyway, we are one step closer to taking control of the UK. (H)



:| :kader:

Originally posted by AhmedK
Anyway, we are one step closer to taking control of the UK. (H)

JIHADD!!!!! :rockman:

But for real... What is this guy wearing if it's not a ****in turban?

http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/9/93/Abdalkadir.jpg

I was named after him, what a legend.

A head-dress biyatch! (H)


btw, Savo, :| :kader: right back atcha. (:/) :mad: :rolleyes:


Anyway Kader, its not what a person wears, its the fact that people thought of turban as soon as they heard Anelka converted.

I own you Shokz :D in the next 2 years all the great stars will convert to islam and we will make our own team. Owen,Campos,Keown,Seamen, butt. Who says these guys are washed up? :kader:

I don't think it's so much converting to Islam, as the fact of playing in the Emirates :p

But look at the pic I made.... it's pimpin.

Originally posted by Gerrard 17
(H)

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Originally posted by Gerrard 17
I don't think it's so much converting to Islam, as the fact of playing in the Emirates :p


yeah, Freddie Kanoute is a Muslim, but there is nothing wrong with it.

But if a player decides to play in a certain area of the world(UAE for example) just because he has a new religion, then that player can ruin his career and never reach his potential. One day that player would look back on his career and say, I wonder how good I could've been?

Anelka denies it all.

http://www.itv-football.co.uk/News/story_113356.shtml

Anelka said on his personal website: "I want to make a point following the publication in France Football on Tuesday, June 8 of a photograph taken of me in Dubai.

"It claimed that I would convert to Islam and that I had already stated that I would not be returning to France or England and intended to sign for a local club.

"Frankly, I cannot understand how such things were allowed to be written.

"I went to Dubai on holiday for ten days with my buddies, this photo was taken when I paid a visit to the Al-Wassal club - a simple visit which was out of courtesy after an invitation from them to meet their players.

"I never gave an interview and so how can somebody say that I would be converting to Islam and remain in Dubai.

"I am returning to France to continue my holidays and perhaps I will visit my brother in Madrid, and then I will be in Manchester in July for the resumption of training.

"Until proof of the opposite, I am under contract with City and flatly deny what was printed in France Football."

Originally posted by AhmedK

I own you Shokz :D in the next 2 years all the great stars will convert to islam and we will make our own team. Owen,Campos,Keown,Seamen, butt. Who says these guys are washed up? :kader:

Dream on, but you can have Campo though, and Rabsy. :chew:

Originally posted by valioso
it was a joke for focks sake

Not many on this forum know how to take a joke. (H)

Chill the hell out. The people are obviously badmouthing Anelka because he is washed up; I haven't seen anybody indicate that they have are prejudiced against Muslims. Anyway, while living in London, the average Brit showed a heckuva lot more understanding of Islam than Americans even in NYC.

All this is completly false, everything is on his webiste

http://nicolasanelka.sports.fr/fr/anelka.asp

He's not a muslim yet.

And even if he does converts, he will stay in England. That was completly phukin stupid from France Football, to start a rumour like that. Really retarded.

Why would he stop playing in England and quit the France national team .. what's the relation between being a muslim and stop his football career.

France Football must die.

First of all not all muslims wear turban.Only arabs or indians wear it, it's in their tradition because it helps to be protected from the sun and they've been living in desert for thousands of years.I'm sure if you go to another hot country you will see people wearing things to be protected from the sun.And We, Turks do never wear turban.

and i think anelka didnt say anything like this.because you are muslim, it doesnt mean you have to play in a muslim country.for example emre is playin in inter and rüstü in barça etc..

and Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid :rockman:

:|:|:|

Anelka . . .

Well what else could you expect from a former Arse ?

zidane is originally from algeria, is he muslim?

Sums Anelka up really

Will be interesting to see the legal side of things if he refuses to full fill contract

Who are the dumbarses that told you people that Muslim's wear turbans? Go back to school.

Originally posted by michaelowe
Sums Anelka up really

Will be interesting to see the legal side of things if he refuses to full fill contract

Learn how to read.....

Originally posted by aytacyolas
zidane is originally from algeria, is he muslim?
Yup, childhood name is Zainudin if I`m not mistaken . . .

Zainudin? Dont think so.

Its Zinedine Yazid Zidane

thanks for info dude.

Just a quick message to all the sad, ignorant + non-intelligable people who have posted replies and made fun of anelka's reversion to Islam, it is actually sikh's who wear turbans, not muslims.

How can you knock someone who has found something decent and meaningful in his life? You lot are the sad ones who have'nt got a clue, anelka's a multi-millionaire at the age of 25, who's really the fool...........

Originally posted by jb25
Just a quick message to all the sad, ignorant + non-intelligable people who have posted replies and made fun of anelka's reversion to Islam, it is actually sikh's who wear turbans, not muslims.

How can you knock someone who has found something decent and meaningful in his life? You lot are the sad ones who have'nt got a clue, anelka's a multi-millionaire at the age of 25, who's really the fool...........


FFS man, calm down, it was a joke. :kader:

Originally posted by Champions!!!
FFS man, calm down, it was a joke. :kader:

Originally posted by shokz
Not many on this forum know how to take a joke. (H)

Originally posted by jb25
Just a quick message to all the sad, ignorant + non-intelligable people who have posted replies and made fun of anelka's reversion to Islam, it is actually sikh's who wear turbans, not muslims.


What does Bin Laden wear, then?

It was joke anyway.