Aymeric Laporte snubbed Chelsea and Manchester City in the summer to stay at Athletic Bilbao
In-demand France Under-21s centre-back could have netted a huge pay rise if he swapped Spain for the Premier League
AYMERIC LAPORTE has revealed he turned down Manchester City and Chelsea over the summer.
The French centre-back, 23, could have netted a mega-money deal by swapping Athletic Bilbao for the Premier League.
But Laporte, 23, told L'Equipe: "I had the chance to leave but I did not feel it.
"Also because I was injured and did not want to leave.
"Chelsea's interest? I can not say anything, it's a personal thing."
Laporte - who is yet to make his international debut - did open the door to a future move as he feels selectors do not value Athletic enough.
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But with Barcelona and Real Madrid both keen on the £58million-rated defender, English clubs would have some serious competition if they launched another approach.
The 19-cap Under-21s star added: "Zouma is playing for Chelsea, Kimpembe is at PSG.
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"I am in Bilbao, a club that may not be sufficiently valued in France. Here, it does not prevent some Spanish players to go to their selection.
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"It seems that Adil Rami’s Marseille are superior to the Athletic Bilbao. Everyone has his opinion. If it’s lower, it’s not much lower.
“If I had the same level at another club, I would more likely to be in France’s squad.”