Aymeric Laporte snubbed Chelsea and Manchester City in the summer to stay at Athletic Bilbao
In-demand France Under-21s centre-back could have netted a huge pay rise if he swapped Spain for the Premier League
AYMERIC LAPORTE has revealed he turned down Manchester City and Chelsea over the summer.
The French centre-back, 23, could have netted a mega-money deal by swapping Athletic Bilbao for the Premier League.
But Laporte, 23, told L'Equipe: "I had the chance to leave but I did not feel it.
"Also because I was injured and did not want to leave.
"Chelsea's interest? I can not say anything, it's a personal thing."
Laporte - who is yet to make his international debut - did open the door to a future move as he feels selectors do not value Athletic enough.
But with Barcelona and Real Madrid both keen on the £58million-rated defender, English clubs would have some serious competition if they launched another approach.
The 19-cap Under-21s star added: "Zouma is playing for Chelsea, Kimpembe is at PSG.
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"I am in Bilbao, a club that may not be sufficiently valued in France. Here, it does not prevent some Spanish players to go to their selection.
"It seems that Adil Rami’s Marseille are superior to the Athletic Bilbao. Everyone has his opinion. If it’s lower, it’s not much lower.
“If I had the same level at another club, I would more likely to be in France’s squad.”