By Jack Granard
Aymeric Laporte had signed for Manchester City in a new club record deal worth £57 million, City have confirmed. He is set to wear the Number 14 shirt.
The move to the Premier League leaders brought an end to a six year spell at Atheltico Bilbao and quickly provided speculation as to whether City had finally found a defender to replace City’s captain.
At 23 years old, the France Under 21 international is a commanding figure at 6 ft 3inches who represents great potential with passing ability and pace. He is an experienced player having played 222 times for the Basque club with 10 goals to his name. Moreover, in terms of leadership he has been captain of his national side at all youth levels he has participated in.
Importantly, he doesn’t let pressure get to him, having impressed pundits early on with his performances at 20 earning him a place in the La Liga Team of the Year in 2014. Moreover, he played both legs of the Spanish Super Cup in the following year against Barcelona and helped Bilbao land their first trophy for 31 years.
With question marks still surrounding John Stones and Eliaquim Mangala, it is possible that Laporte could find himself in the team straight away.
The improved performances of Nicholas Otamendi this year suggest Pep’s ability to nurture defensive players is there. With one of the hottest prospects in world football arriving at the Ethihad, Manchester City hope to have a new defensive partnership that will dominate for years to come.
Laporte appears to be a Pep Guardiola player in every way and could be the next Vincent Kompany if he can continue his impressive career thus far.
Defensive reinforcements acquired! ???
Please #welcomeaymeric to the Club! pic.twitter.com/cDu4FWOKlb
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 30, 2018
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