Man City Defender Aymeric Laporte Aiming to Become the Best Defender in the Europe

Aymeric Laporte says he targets becoming the best centre-back in the world - and says to do so, he has to become as good as Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos.​

Ramos has struggled at Real so far this season, as they look to bounce back from the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and manager Zinedine Zidane, under whom they won three successive Champions Leagues, and have already sacked the latter's successor due to poor form in La Liga.

Despite his momentary struggles, however, Laporte believes that Ramos remains the benchmark for defenders, telling the ​Evening Standard“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, as 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.”

Laporte joined ​Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao for €65m in January, and has become a central figure to their defence of the ​Premier League title, playing every minute of their 12 games so far.


Speaking about adapting to English football, he added that it's hard work - but he's loving it. 

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

Manchester City v Southampton FC - Premier League

“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.”


Source : 90min