Nicolas Anelka has suggested racism rears its head when the France national team struggle.
Nicolas Anelka claims he has had 'nothing but trouble' in France and has suggested racism rears its head when the national team struggle.
The Chelsea striker has spent two spells playing for Paris St Germain in his homeland, but has enjoyed the majority of his career outside France.
He has represented five different Premier League clubs, and also had stints in Spain and Turkey, and feels people back in France have a 'false picture' of him.
Anelka was hit with an 18-match ban following his bust-up with former France coach Raymond Domenech at the World Cup finals which confirmed the end of his international career.
The 31-year-old returns to France on Wednesday when Chelsea take on Marseille in the UEFA Champions League, but appears to have little time for his fellow countrymen.
Nothing but trouble
"The fact I grew up on a high-rise estate counted against me," said Anelka. "I was the first player from this background to own a Ferrari, and this did people's heads in.
"I have never wanted to sing the national anthem with France. Had they insisted I'd have refused, and quit playing for them.
"People in France have a false picture of me. Everything I have achieved has been abroad. I am not 'made in France' - that's the place I have had nothing but trouble."
France's dismal performance at the World Cup in South Africa prompted heavy criticism of the team, and Anelka feels much of it was based on skin colour and religion.
He added: "People said there was a clan of black players in the French squad at the World Cup, and we then saw the true face of France.
"When the France team fails to win people start talking straight away about the players' skin colours and religious beliefs.
"When times get tough we find out what people really think. They said Franck Ribery had hit Yoann Gourcuff - Ribery the Muslim, and Gourcuff the good French boy."
