It has been reported that Atletico Madrid are now targeting a player Manchester City sold in the summer of 2023.
Unlike Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez — who also left City last summer — departed Europe in favour of moves to Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli respectively.
Laporte and Mahrez became bit-part players during their final seasons at Manchester City.
However, having also won the treble, perhaps the pair felt that after winning multiple Premier League titles, FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies, it was the right time for them to bow out of European football.
But it could be argued that both players were still at the required levels to play in Europe.
Atletico Madrid considering Aymeric Laporte signing
Mahrez, for instance, was past his best but he still registered 15 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for City during the 2022/2023 season.
Craig Burley claimed that Laporte was “excellent” in Spain’s Euro 2024-winning campaign.
However, it was reported a month ago that Al-Nassr are open to listening to offers for the Spanish defender.
Journalist Rudy Galetti has revealed on X that in case Atletico Madrid fail to wrap up the signing of David Hancko, they consider Laporte as their “first option” as an alternative.
Galetti has also claimed that the former Athletic Bilbao centre-back “would like to return to La Liga.”
Atletico Madrid would be a great move for Aymeric Laporte
Playing under Diego Simeone and for one of the biggest clubs in world football in Atletico Madrid would be a brilliant move for Laporte.
While Simeone’s system has become far more attacking in recent years, in the biggest of games, he prefers to be pragmatic; a setup which would suit the decorated defender.
A player of Laporte’s calibre deserves to play at the highest level.
Considering the former Manchester City defender is still a top player, returning to La Liga and playing Champions League football again would make for an excellent next career step.
