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Aymeric Laporte is taking the best qualities of Sergio Ramos to become the best defender in Europe.

The Real Madrid star upset half of Merseyside when his challenge led to Mo Salah's enforced substitution in the Champions League final back in May, but a CV that boasts - among other accolade - four league titles, four European trophies as well as three major international honours is a better indicator of the defender's pedigree.

For Laporte, who cut his teeth in La Liga, Ramos remains the benchmark and Manchester City's star centre-back hopes he can display the same skills in the Premier League as he aims to ultimately replace the 32-year-old as the standout player on the continent in his position.

"It's similar but more physical but I am really enjoying that aspect of it. I've enjoyed it from day one and I feel very much at home here," he said.

"Do I want to be the best defender in Europe? Of course. Any defender will tell you that - who wouldn't want to be the best?

"Sergio Ramos is probably the best centre-back in the world at the moment, we know we have to match his standards or better him if we are to be as good as he is. City have Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones - all great defenders and we can all learn off each other.

"To get to the top, you must have an edge to your game, like Ramos does.

"Every training session you take part in, you have to work very hard and train hard because there is no other way to get where you want to be - it's not a secret and not a magic formula - just hard work and application."

French-born Laporte rejected a move to Manchester in the summer of 2016 to remain at Athletic Bilbao but opted to link-up with Pep Guardiola in January in what was a club record fee before Riyad Mahrez's arrival.

And with a deal that keeps him at the club until 2023, City will hope the player can realise his ambition at the Etihad.

"I am learning English and can understand better than I can speak it. But having said that, I am learning as quickly as I can," said Laporte.

"I was in Spain from the age of 15 so had eight years in Bilbao and probably have more of a Spanish accent than a French one at the moment. Maybe in eight years I'll have an English accent instead!"