Laporte: Man City success can help my France chances play

Aymeric Laporte has told SFR Sport he hopes his form for Manchester City will propel him into France’s World Cup plans.

Centre-back Laporte arrived at City from Athletic Bilbao for a club-record £57.2 million in January and has quickly settled in to Pep Guardiola’s team.

The 23-year-old, who made his third Premier League start in the 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, has won 19 under-21 caps for France but has yet to make a senior appearance.

With Didier Deschamps set to name his France squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Colombia and Russia, Laporte said his higher profile at City could only help.

“Of course the more games you win, the more trophies you win, you have more chance of getting into the national side.

“I have to focus on my club for now, and if things go well, we’ll see about that later,” he said.

“I’ve been very warmly welcomed by the club. The players are very happy to have me, I’m happy to be with them.

“The club has helped me in every aspect, and that’s very good for me. So things are going well on and off the pitch, and we’re getting results too, so it’s great.”

Asked what had impressed him most about City, he said: “Everything! The people, the way of playing, the coach.

“It’s another world, I have to take advantage of that and learn from those things.”