- Aymeric Laporte spent five years at Man City
- Departed for Saudi Pro League in 2023
- Explains why he regrets decision to move
Aymeric Laporte has heaped praise on Manchester City and explained what he misses the most about being part of the club.
Manchester City brought Aymeric Laporte to the Etihad Stadium in 2018, two years after Pep Guardiola’s arrival.
The defender was signed from Athletic Club, having already lifted a Spanish Super Cup and participated in the Europa League with the La Liga side.
Laporte’s time at City was full of success, but it came to an end after a treble winning season which saw his game time decrease.
Aymeric Laporte regrets leaving Man City
Making only 24 appearances in his final campaign at the club, Laporte made the switch to Al Nassr in a deal worth £23.6m.
The Saudi Pro League outfit were an appealing option, as they allowed Laporte to play with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.
However, Laporte has now revealed that he returned to Europe last year at the nearest possible opportunity. Additionally, he regrets leaving Man City in the first place.
The 31-year-old told as.com: “I regretted leaving because I was at the best club in the world, [Man] City.
“The way they take care of their players there is unique; you only realize it when you leave. When you arrive, it’s impressive, and then once you get used to it, you see it as something commonplace, something normal.
“When you leave and you’re no longer experiencing that special routine they have there, you realize how lucky you are to have been at a great club like City, and like I said, for me it was an unforgettable experience,” he continued.
“I’m truly grateful to the club. I can’t say anything bad because it was one of the best things ever.”
Laporte became a serial winner at Man City
Five-and-a-half years is not a huge amount of time when it comes to a player’s career, but Laporte accomplished a lot in this period.
Only months into the Spain international’s spell at City, he became a winner of the League Cup and Premier League.
Laporte continued to win silverware in every season he spent with the Citizens, with 13 major trophies to his name, as well as a UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.
Laporte will be eyeing another trophy this summer
Right now, Laporte’s main focus is on taking Athletic Club from 10th place in La Liga to a position which would ensure their spot in a European competition next season.
However, the ex-City star will have one eye on the World Cup. Indeed, he is looking to secure a third trophy with Spain after winning the Nations League and Euros in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Laporte completed 90 minutes for his national team against Serbia in March, so he is still viewed as an important player.
So even though the defender’s Man City career ended sooner than he would have liked, Laporte is still competing for titles, proving his status as a top class talent.
