Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte has left Manchester City to join the Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr, where he will now play alongside Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo. Laporte’s departure from Manchester City comes after a successful five-and-a-half-year tenure during which he secured 13 major trophies. He joined City from La Liga’s Athletic Club in January 2018, becoming a key player in Pep Guardiola’s plans and contributing to their status as the first Centurions in the Premier League.
Laporte played a crucial role in City’s defense, particularly during the 2018/19 season when he featured in 51 matches and helped the team secure a domestic treble. However, injuries hampered his performance in the 2019/20 campaign, allowing John Stones and Ruben Dias to establish themselves as the primary center-back pairing. Despite this setback, Laporte returned to the team in the 2021/22 season, making 44 appearances and contributing to another Premier League title win.
Reflecting on his time at City, Laporte stated as quoted from the club’s official website, “I am proud to have represented Manchester City over the last six seasons. When I first joined, I was excited about the prospect of winning trophies. However, I could not have imagined the success we would go on to achieve together. ” “I would like to thank the coaches, my teammates and of course the brilliant City fans for all of their support throughout my time in Manchester. I will always be a city fan and I look forward to seeing you all again,” Laporte signed off saying.
Injuries continued to pose challenges for Laporte during the 2022/23 Premier League season, limiting his appearances in important matches. Despite these setbacks, he was part of Manchester City’s successful Treble-winning campaign and also contributed to their victory in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
Laporte’s move to Al Nassr places him alongside other notable signings for the Saudi Pro League club in the current summer transfer window, including Alex Telles, Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana, Marcelo Brozovic, and Otavio. This trend highlights the attraction of top European players to the league.
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