Laporte accuses Deschamps of not backing him before choosing Spain

Aymeric Laporte has given his account of one of the most significant decisions of his career: his choice to represent Spain rather than France. In an interview with former Spanish international Mario Suarez, the 32-year-old defender directly blamed Didier Deschamps.

“The France manager didn’t count on me at all, so I decided to leave,” Laporte said. Regularly called up with the Blues between 2017 and 2019, he notably answered the call in September 2019 before withdrawing through injury — which turned out to be his last France squad selection.

Far from regretting this turning point, Laporte fully stands by his choice. He recalls that his roots in Spain go beyond sport: “My wife, my family and my children are from here. I feel very attached to Spain.” He also highlights the foundational role of Athletic Bilbao in his development: “Athletic Bilbao welcomed me with open arms, and that’s where I made the most progress.”

On results, the decision has proved particularly fruitful. Called up for the first time in the Spain shirt in 2021, Laporte has since won the World Cup, the European Championship and the Nations League. Yet he insists that trophies are not at the heart of his reasoning: “Even if that weren’t the case, I would feel the same pride.”

This statement comes as Laporte, who was developed in France and born in Agen, remains an ambivalent figure for France supporters. His trajectory illustrates the tensions that can exist between national loyalty and the pursuit of a central role at the highest international level.