BREAKING: Manchester City Star’s Shocking Revelation – I’m Winning the War Against My Critics!
Overcoming Setbacks: Aymeric Laporte’s Journey from Man City to Euro 2024 Glory
As the Euro 2024 final approaches, four Manchester City players and three former City stars will be on the field for England and Spain, including one of Pep Guardiola’s top defenders from his tenure at the club.
Aymeric Laporte, a standout for Spain, celebrated as his team secured a spot in the final. Known for silencing his critics, Laporte has become crucial in Spain’s recent resurgence, after the national team had only reached the last-16 in one of the four tournaments since their 2010 World Cup victory. Spain’s Nations League triumph in 2023 could now be followed by a European Championship win, with Laporte proving to be a valuable successor to legends Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.
Laporte’s international career has been unconventional. Born in France, he initially played for their youth teams but is of Basque heritage, which enabled him to play for Athletic Bilbao, a club exclusively recruiting Basque players. In 2018, after six years at Bilbao, he transferred to Manchester City, despite not having debuted for France’s senior team. In 2015, facing exclusion from the Euro 2016 squad, he expressed interest in switching allegiance to Spain, supported by then-Spain manager Julen Lopetegui.
France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, responded by calling Laporte to the senior squad but did not let him debut, which temporarily halted Laporte’s switch. However, after a successful first season at City, injuries dashed his hopes of playing for France again. Laporte openly criticized Deschamps, who denied any personal bias but effectively ended Laporte’s prospects with France.
By 2021, as Euro 2020 loomed, Spain revived Laporte’s international aspirations, helping him gain dual citizenship and FIFA’s approval to represent them. He has since earned 34 caps in three years and stands on the brink of a European Championship win, having played a part in Spain’s semifinal victory over Deschamps’ France.
Despite his success with Spain, Laporte’s relationship with Manchester City and Guardiola was strained. Unhappy with being played out of his preferred center-back position and Guardiola’s rotation policies, Laporte voiced his dissatisfaction and eventually left City. He recently criticized Guardiola’s claim that players were free to leave if they desired, suggesting it wasn’t entirely truthful in his case.
Laporte’s move to Saudi Arabia has been temporary, with ambitions to return to European football. A standout performance in the Euro 2024 final could enhance his chances of returning to a top European club and remind Guardiola and Deschamps of his talent.
