Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate Aymeric Laporte decides on club he wants to play for next season as he plans Europe return: Reports
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr teammate Aymeric Laporte has reportedly decided to leave the club next season. He is eyeing a move back to Europe in the upcoming campaign.
French by birth, Spanish international Laporte was only the second French international to play for Athletic Bilbao when he joined the club in 2010. He played for the Basque outfit before securing a big-money transfer to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in 2018. The Citizens paid a reported fee of £57 million to sign the Agen native.
Laporte spent five seasons at City and won numerous trophies, including the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. The center-back also gained Spanish citizenship and was able to represent the former world champions in the 2020 UEFA Euro Championship and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, when Saudi Arabia came calling after Man City's 2023 UCL-winning campaign, Laporte ended his stint in England. The 29-year-old signed a lucrative contract with Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Aymeric Laporte featured in 25 league matches for Al-Nassr in the ongoing season, netting four goals and providing one assist. However, after what has been a tumultuous season for the Saudi Arabian outfit, reports from Marca suggest that Laporte is eyeing a move back to his boyhood club Athletic Bilbao.
According to the report, an operation is underway for Bilbao to land Laporte back to San Mamés. The Copa del Rey champions are allegedly open to bringing their "prodigal child" back with "open arms."
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly pressuring Al-Nassr to sign Manchester United captain
After Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United to sign a massive contract with Al-Nassr, multiple big stars followed suit. The likes of Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane are a few of the many big names who left European football to play in the Saudi Pro League.
However, after Al-Nassr, who despite signing names like Laporte, Mane, and Brozovic, failed to beat rivals Al-Hilal to the league title, captain Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly urged the team to bring on board his former United teammate and compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes has two years left on his contract with the Red Devils. It has been reported by The Mirror that the potential signing would cost the SPL outfit in the range of £80 to £90 million.
Bruno Fernandes has displayed exceptional attacking output in what has been a challenging season for United. The Portuguese international has scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 games across competitions. Shall the 29-year-old part ways with United, Fernandes could prove to be a mega signing for Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo for the upcoming campaign.