Laporte to represent Spain instead of France

CAIRO – 21 October 2017 : Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte released on Friday that he could represent Spain instead of his own country, France.

“I have been in Spain for eight years and I will play for them if they are interested," Laporte told press on Friday.

Laporte, 23, represented France in the youth level and won the silver medal with the French team in the 2013 UEFA European U-19 Championship; however, he never played a game with the French first team.

Laporte added, “I have always said that my country is France, but if I am not selected, then there is an alternative.”

Laporte unveiled reasons behind his absence from the French national team, saying, “I am with Athletic, a club that may not be sufficiently valued in France. We have players who go to the Spanish national team, and if I was at another club, I would be more likely to play for France.”

Laporte, born in Agen, France, is an Atletic Bilbao academy product, as he joined the club when he was 16. He got promoted through the club youth rankings until he joined the first team in 2010.