For years, Aymeric Laporte was linked with a move to Manchester City.
The transfer made sense on a few levels.
Manchester City were one of the few clubs who could pay the player’s release clause. With an increasing clause at Athletic Club Bilbao, the defender’s price is set to rise to €70m this summer and he wouldn’t go for any less.
It had been thought Laporte would suit Pep Guardiola’s football outlook and be a good bet for Manchester City both now and in the future. Despite being just 23 years of age, Laporte is full of experience, playing over 160 times for his club.
The transfer never happened, and there’ll be a variety of reasons for that. Laporte suffered injury and Manchester City saw other options, and it never felt like the footballer was really pushing for a move.
This week he’s been questioned at an event with schoolchildren and when asked about Manchester City interest, AS quote the player as saying: “It gives you security, I’m grateful that a big club values me and puts me at their level.”
Despite his clause gradually going up in recent years, given market inflation it somehow seems less than it did.
