Ex-Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte set to ditch French national team in order to play for Spain after injury snub
Athletic Bilbao ace reportedly seething after Didier Deschamps failed to check up on broken leg and could now switch nations
FORMER Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte is at the centre of a sensational tug-of-war between France and Spain.
The Athletic Bilbao defender has been capped 19 times for France’s U21’s, but claim he is about to switch allegiances to Spain ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
Laporte was a dead cert to make Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2016 squad before breaking his leg, and was allegedly infuriated when the national boss failed to check up on him during his recovery.
France also have a large number of centre-backs at their disposal, and the 22-year-old could now turn out for Spain instead after also snubbing City in June to sign a lucrative new Bilbao contract.
Laporte qualifies through his Basque grandparents, and French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has labelled the potential switch ‘unimaginable’.
Le Graet said: “I read in a Spanish newspaper that he planned to play for Spain, I wish him good luck, but I think he’s wrong.
“Didier couldn’t take him to the Euros as he was injured, although he had a very good season in Bilbao.
“We still won’t put pressure on Didier to select him. For me, it’s unimaginable. If Laporte wants to change jersey, that’s his business. The rules allow him.
“Our centre-backs are fighting to be starters, and there are others in reserve. I think [Mamadou] Sakho and [Eliaquim] Mangala can bounce back, [plus Kurt] Zouma.
“Laporte must be part of the eight or nine, but for him to say, ‘if I’m not called up, I’m going to Spain’, then it’s his business.”