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Aymeric Laporte has hit out at critics who believed his move to Saudi Arabia should have disqualified him from the Spain squad that wins Euro 2024.
The defender started six of Spain’s seven games in Germany and played every minute of the 2-1 win over England in the final.
Laporte, 30, left Manchester City last summer after seven trophy-winning seasons to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr for £23.5million.
Opponents in Spain wanted to see him dropped from the national team after he moved to a less reputable league, but now he has the final say.
“The rest is history,” He wrote On X, in a cool rejection of their negativity, they posted screenshots of criticism from the Spanish media before the tournament.
Aymeric Laporte has hit out at critics who criticised the decision to take him to Euro 2024
The former Man City star started six games and played the fourth most minutes for them
Critics had raised concerns about Laporte playing in Saudi Arabia and his fitness.
According to Marca, there were concerns about Laporte’s fitness and the quality of the league he played in during the 2023-24 season.
Some observers now argue that playing in the Saudi Pro League, where the intensity of matches is lower than in the Premier League, is beneficial for players like N’Golo Kante.
Laporte, who became a naturalised Spaniard in 2021 after failing to play an international match for his native France, will feel vindicated after winning his first international trophy, beating his native country in the semi-finals.
He posted three screenshots of negative coverage about him in the Spanish media.
‘Laporte’s connection with Spain: he disappeared from the elite by going to Saudi Arabia and he is at the European Championships,’ headlined El Confidencial.
“Laporte’s blatant evasive manoeuvres,” was the opinion of columnist Alfredo Relano.
Meanwhile, Spanish pundit Joaquin Maroto claimed on radio station Cadena SER: ‘I saw Laporte play and I said to the coach: he is not in the minimum form required to play in the European Championship. He may be fit enough to play in Saudi Arabia, but not fit enough to play in the European Championship.
He added that Laporte was “worse” than 17-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, who was left out of Spain’s provisional squad for Euro 2024.
The defender left Manchester City last summer to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr
He is just 30 years old and left City after seven seasons for £23.5million in a shock transfer last August
Manager Luis de la Fuente had faith in Laporte and he ultimately played the fourth most minutes (525) of all the team’s stars at the European Championship.
He missed Spain’s opening match against Croatia but started the rest of the matches, only coming into action at half-time against Albania in their final group match, when they were leading 1-0.
La Roja conceded four goals in six games with the former Manchester City star on the pitch and he formed a solid partnership with Robin Le Normand.