Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer window updates delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Man City defender Aymeric Laporte has finally been called up to the France squad for the upcoming EURO 2020 qualifiers.

Laporte hasn't been in a France squad since he sat on the bench in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Spain in March 2017 and is still yet to earn a cap for his country.

It seems ludicrous to think that one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, who played a pivotal role in City's march to an historic treble last season, has had to wait so long to get recognised by his country.

Lapote previously believed that the continued snubbing may have been a personal issue between himself and the manager Didier Deschamps.

"Of course I don't think it's because of a sporting issue, you'd have to ask him personally," Laporte said in December. "I don't have anything personal against him, but if someone has a problem it's him and not me.

"I could be a world champion... but these are the decisions of the coach, who is not calling me for, I think, personal reasons, and I have to respect him."

Deschamps wasn't a fan of those comments and responded by saying he already had too many left-footed centre-backs in his squad to warrant calling up another.

"I do not understand [why Laporte made those statements]. I do not know," he told RMC Sport.

"I do not have a problem with anyone. When I choose someone it is not for me. I repeat. I only have one thing to say to him and that is that he continues to perform well.

"If you tell me he must be in [Marseille centre-back Adil] Rami's place then I stop you right away. Sorry but two left-footed defenders at centre-back at international level... We have a lot of left-footers and few right-footers."

Now Laporte has finally been given a more than deserved call up and could finally make his first appearance for his country in their qualifiers against Albania and Andorra in Paris.

Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo have been called up by Portugal while Ilkay Gundogan is in the Germany squad.