Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte: 'Personal reasons' behind France omission

Published on: 14 December 2018

Manchester United finish second in Group H while Manchester City top their group in the Champions League.

The FC panel assess if Manchester City deserve to be ahead of Barcelona and Juventus as the oddsmakers' favourites to win the Champions League.

Phil Foden sits down with CityTV after signing a contract renewal, keeping him at the club until 2024.

Chelsea handed Manchester City their first league defeat of the season overpowering the league leaders at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte thinks his continued omission from the France squad by Didier Deschamps is down to "personal reasons."

After featuring 19 times at under-21 level, Laporte was first called into France's senior side in March 2017, but is yet to win a cap for his country.

Laporte has been a key part of Manchester City's defence since joining in January 2018, but was overlooked in the last set of international fixtures for Crystal Palace's Mamadou Sakho.

Fantasy

    Play ESPN Fantasy Soccer

    Pick your eight-man team and compete in the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga or Liga MX, then go head-to-head in leagues against your friends or people around the world. Sign up for free!

    How to play ESPN Fantasy Soccer

    Your team will be made up of eight players, at four different positions: two forwards, three midfielders, two defenders, and a goalkeeper. Find out more here.

    Watch on ESPN networks in the U.S.

    ESPN+ is America's home for a host of professional soccer leagues from around the world, highlighted by Italy's Serie A, Major League Soccer, UEFA Nations League and English FA Cup. | ESPN+ schedule

    - Newcomers to pick and avoid - Champions League names to know - La Liga names to know - Breaking down ESPN's scoring system

"The national team coach takes his decisions," Laporte told Basque TV.  "It's not to do with sport. If he doesn't call me up, I think it's for personal reasons. 

"You have to respect his decision. I'm not going to call him to get an explanation. I work every day with my club to get called up for the national side."

Born in the southwestern French town of Agen, Laporte made his name in Spain during an eight-year spell at Athletic Bilbao before moving to City for a then-club record £57 million fee.

His time at Bilbao reportedly led to discussions being held over his eligibility to play for Spain, with former France U21 boss Willy Sagnol saying that Laporte had "let doubts be established" over initial refusal to publicly declare for the country of his birth and this could have affected Deschamps' decisions.

Laporte, however, has now made his mind up.

"I have chosen France," he said. "I'm French. I don't even have dual nationality. I'm not going to ask for it."

Source: espn.co.uk

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more