Laporte never considered other options besides returning to Athletic Club

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03/05/26 14:00:00

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The return of Aymeric Laporte to Athletic Club is not the result of chance or a spontaneous market move. The French-Spanish center-back always had a clear idea in his mind: to return to San Mamés.

After his time at Manchester City and the adventure in Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, Laporte has completed the return he had been pursuing for some time, as reported by MARCA. The player admitted during his presentation that during the last transfer window, he did not consider any other option.

Laporte was clear: it was Athletic or nothing

"My only desire was to return to Athletic, and that's what I communicated to Al-Nassr," confessed the defender in a press conference after the match against Alavés. The player revealed that there were other clubs interested in acquiring his services, with even better financial offers, but his decision was made: to return to the club where he grew up. "Money was not important; the essential thing was to come back home," he added.

Laporte explained that two years ago, when he left City for Saudi Arabia, his initial intention was to return to Bilbao. However, the conditions at that time made the operation impossible. The English club demanded a very high transfer fee, which Athletic could not afford. Now, with just one year left on his contract with Al-Nassr, the scenario was different. "This time it was viable, and from the beginning, I made it clear to everyone my desire to wear the red and white shirt again," he said.

The defender's presentation was filled with emotion. Surrounded by his family and with the fans applauding his return, Laporte acknowledged that reliving Lezama and San Mamés brought back childhood memories. Also, he thanked FIFA for validating the registration in time, something that created uncertainty until the last minute. "I signed with both clubs before midnight, and when we received the official confirmation, there were tears in my family," he explained.

The 30-year-old center-back showed ambition and eagerness to make himself available to Ernesto Valverde as soon as possible. He has been training on his own in recent weeks to arrive in the best physical shape and hopes to soon get the green light to play in the Champions League. "I will push myself to the maximum; I want to help achieve important goals and bring joy to our people," he stated.

He also had words for the Spanish national team. He acknowledged conversations with Luis de la Fuente and confirmed that this return not only responds to a sentimental question but also a sporting one. Being at Athletic allows him to remain on the radar of the national team for the upcoming World Cup. "Coming back here is also an operational decision; I want to enjoy my club and at the same time compete to be in the national team," he assured.

With four European champions in the squad, Athletic faces the challenge of establishing itself among the top teams. Laporte joins with the enthusiasm of a homegrown player and the experience of a veteran. His message was clear: the return to Bilbao was always on his horizon, and despite the difficulties, he never considered another route.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Laporte nunca valoró otras opciones que no fueran volver al Athletic