Gary Neville says Samir Nasri "goes missing" in tough matches and cost Manchester City a point in Sunday's derby.
The Monday Night Football pundit faced the Frenchman during his playing days and while he acknowledges his skill levels he says he doesn't work hard enough, especially when the even more talented David Silva is in the side.
City Striker Mario Balotelli was substituted at half-time during Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, but Neville felt the lacklustre Nasri was the weakest link in the team.
"There was another player on the pitch who could easily have been taken off before Mario Balotelli," Neville said.
"I think he goes missing in big games for City - and he's the only one - and that's Samir Nasri.
"For me, he doesn't put a shift in. When they play with David Silva and Nasri, you expect the brilliance of Silva and you need somebody more solid on the other side now.
"By the way, I played against Nasri three or four years ago at the Emirates Stadium and he pulled my pants down for 60 minutes and I got subbed because he absolutely battered me.
"This is a player you'll see when the 'ole's' are coming out, but when the going gets tough I'm not sure he fancies it that much."
Neville also said Nasri was at fault for Manchester United's winning goal, as replays clearly showed him ducking out of the way of Robin van Persie's free-kick as it sailed into the far corner.
It proved to be a hammer blow for City - the injury-time strike was scored only minutes after Pablo Zabaleta's had seemingly given the home side the initiative - and Neville said Nasri's lack of desire cost his side a precious point.
"It's difficult to describe," he added.
"Carlos Tevez was furious. You could see him arguing with Nasri and saying 'what's happening?' Why did he turn his back?
"Pablo Zabaleta had just scored and wanted to score that winner. There was 44,000 Manchester Cityfans in that stadium who would have taken one flush in the face. Pablo Zabaleta and nine of his team-mates would have taken it flush in the face - and then you've got Samri Nasri.
"The football match has been won by what Samir Nasri did in that wall. It really has cost his team.
"That was the difference on the day."
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