Manchester City have bid farewell to defender Aymeric Laporte by confirming his move to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Laporte’s decision to join Al-Nassr marks the end of a successful five-and-a-half season stint with the Cityzens, during which he played a pivotal role in the club’s trophy-laden campaigns.
The Spanish defender’s impact was undeniable, amassing 180 appearances and helping the club win a vast array of major silverware.
Upon his arrival from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018, Laporte seamlessly integrated into Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing squad.
His inclusion in nine of the final 14 games of the historic 2017/18 season helped propel Manchester City to becoming the Premier League’s first centurions.
Laporte’s first 48 hours after landing in Manchester were nothing short of eventful.
Despite not even having boots, he was summoned to the training pitch two hours after his arrival. Guardiola informed him of his imminent debut against West Bromwich Albion.
He performed admirably, setting the tone for his successful stint at the club by showing defensive awareness and composure.
While Laporte faced some injury setbacks during the 2019/20 season, his resilience and talent remained evident.
He played a pivotal role in the club’s remarkable quadruple-winning 2018/19 campaign and scored the decisive goal in the 2020/21 League Cup final.
A resurgence in form during the following season saw Laporte contribute significantly to Man City’s Premier League title victory.
However, a knee injury at the start of the 2022/23 season and intense competition for starting spots limited his appearances in crucial matches during the club’s recent treble-winning triumph.
Laporte’s journey with Man City ended with his recent participation in their 2023 UEFA Super Cup victory.
The defender now embarks on a new adventure with Al-Nassr, where he will link up with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Otavio, Seko Fofana and Alex Telles.
