Courtesy: EuroSport
Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City will be eligible to play for Spain in next month’s European Championship after FIFA approved his switch from France on Friday.
Laporte’s application to become a Spanish citizen was approved earlier this week, and the FIFA Players’ Status Committee approved his change of association.
“The player Aymeric Laporte is eligible to play for the RFEF – Spanish Football Association’s representative teams with immediate effect,” the RFEF said in a statement.
Players can switch if they have not played more than three matches for that country before the age of 21 and have not competed in a World Cup or continental tournament. Laporte was frustrated with the lack of opportunities for France, despite performing well regularly.
Laporte, who joined City in January 2018 for 57 million pounds, has never played for France’s senior team despite appearing for the country’s youth teams more than 50 times.
Euros 2021 starts next month with Spain being the underdogs. Can Laporte make a difference to Spain’s chances at winning the Euros?