Steve Howey has backed Aymeric Laporte’s decision to seek a move away from Manchester City before the transfer window closes next month.
Laporte, who featured heavily for Spain at Euro 2020, joined City from Spanish side Athletic Bilbao for a then club record fee of £57million in 2018.
While he went on to be named in the PFA’s Premier League Team of the Year in his first full season with Pep Guardiola’s side, Laporte found his opportunities limited last season and made just 27 appearances.
Should Man City allow Aymeric Laporte to leave?
Yes
No
Ruben Dias and John Stones, who finished last term as City’s first-choice pairing at the heart of the defence, are expected to agree new deals and that could result in more time on the bench for £120,000-a-week man Laporte.
According to Sport, Laporte is keen to push through a move to Barcelona. The report suggests the 27-year-old is putting pressure on the Premier League champions to facilitate a transfer to the Nou Camp.
Former City defender Howey thinks Laporte is too good to settle for a place on City’s bench next season.
He exclusively told TIF: “If you’re a professional footballer, you want to be playing football week in, week out. You don’t want to be sitting on your backside on the bench all the time.
“When you’re in the prime of your career, you do not want to be sitting on the bench. You’ve got to question somebody’s attitude and desire if they’re happy to do that week in, week out.
“I can totally understand where the lad is coming from because he wants first-team football.”