“If I wanted to play, I had to make the decision to play for Spain”

Aymeric Laporte is one of the leaders at the back of the Spanish national team. Nationalised, he did not get the chance to play for the French national team due to some friction with Didier Deschamps, who is still in charge of 'Les Bleus'.

"If I went to the French national team and then didn't go, it was more because of personal relationships that didn't work out," the Al Nassr centre-back confessed to 'RMC Sport' in the middle of a call-up to the Spain squad.

It was precisely ‘La Roja’ that was Laporte's final destination, after playing several years in the ranks of Athletic Club. "I couldn't wait any longer. The years went by and in the end it was always the same coach," he said.

"If I wanted to play in international competitions, I had to make decisions. I had to make it. I'm happy and I feel very good in the Spanish national team," said the former Manchester City player.

Laporte wanted to be clear on the subject of Deschamps: "We had exchanges on several occasions that were not necessarily the smoothest. That's life. It's over, I don't even think about it any more. Everyone goes their own way.