Inside The Mind Of Pep, Keeping Up With CR7 & International Glory

Summary

The Rest Is Football – "Inside The Mind Of Pep, Keeping Up With CR7 & International Glory"

Release Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
Guest: Aymeric Laporte (Interview at Athletic Club, Bilbao)

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Episode Overview

This episode departs from the usual studio banter, delivering an in-depth, warm, and revealing interview with Aymeric Laporte—star centre-back, recent European champion with Spain, ex-Manchester City lynchpin, and now returned hero at Athletic Club, Bilbao. The conversation touches on Laporte’s journey from boyhood in the Basque Country, his development under world-class coaches, glory and heartbreak at Manchester City, the inside experience of playing for Pep Guardiola, his switch of national teams, a stint in Saudi Arabia alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and what continues to drive him as a competitor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Roots and Basque Heritage

[02:57]

• Laporte describes Bilbao as “like home” after arriving aged 15, learning the language, and feeling part of the culture.
• Athletic’s player philosophy: only those who grew up in the Basque Country or with Basque heritage may play—Laporte fit through his upbringing and family connections.
• “All my friends, my teammates was playing for Spain also. So I decided to play there…I enjoyed a lot. I have the confidence of the manager, the one before, the one now. And I'm really happy to enjoy this moment with my family…” (Aymeric Laporte, [22:49])

2. Rise Through Athletic’s Ranks and Working with Marcelo Bielsa

[06:00]

• Laporte’s rapid ascent: he moved up three age groups to the first team within a season, catching the eye of then-coach Marcelo Bielsa.
• Bielsa only realized Laporte’s talent after a standout youth game against Arsenal: “After that I never come back down.” (Laporte, [08:07])
• He reflects on Bielsa's demanding man-to-man training style and how physically tough it was, but also how much he learned.

3. Manchester City, Adaptation & Pep Guardiola’s Philosophy

[08:58]

• Arrival at City was a whirlwind—he debuted within 24 hours, new boots bought hastily after a 10-day layoff for the transfer.
• On Guardiola: “The way to understand football, you know, the tactical situation in a game, that is the most important thing I learned from him. And he's different. Football that you can see anywhere, I mean, you enjoy playing this football…” (Laporte, [10:16])
• His memories of the most special Premier League wins—recalls scoring versus Brighton in the 2018–19 title decider and the relentless pressure of City’s title races with Liverpool.

4. Champions League Glory & City Legends

[15:36]

• Laporte feels City could have won more Champions Leagues but laments “stupid mistake, or lucky or no lucky situation…” ([15:53]).
• He pays tribute to Aguero, Kompany, and Silva: “They were all of them legends…an honor for me. To play alongside them, to learn from them.” ([17:19])
• Friendly exchanges and strong continued relationships with ex-teammates, especially Aguero.

5. Resilience Through Injury & Mental Strength

[19:05]

• Laporte opens up about his knee injury (pre-2020 Euros), the emotional toll, and the challenge of regaining a starting place: “In 1920…I got injured and that was very, very difficult to accept… The most important thing is your head, to accept it and understand that it will be a process…”
• He credits a “very strong” mentality, prefers self-reflection, and values the support of family and those around him ([20:45]).

6. National Team: Switch from France to Spain

[21:34]

• Never selected for senior France duty despite youth captaincies and Ligue 1/Premier League form.
• Switch to Spain motivated by a desire for top international tournaments and a sense of belonging: “I feel also big part of me feel also Spanish…” ([22:49])
• Winning Euro 2024 was his proudest achievement: “This achievement is I think number one because I felt very important for the team and I played, I played well, I felt very good.” ([24:26])

7. Advice for Young Stars and Team Culture

[26:35]

• On mentoring Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams: stresses humility and self-reflection for prodigies facing sudden stardom.
• “You can be on the top level and you can go down very fast. You have to be humble, you have to be calm…” ([27:00])

8. Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Football’s Next Frontiers

[31:06]

• Laporte on adapting to life and football in Riyadh: “It’s just different… Not better nor worse. It’s different.”
• Football there is challenged by climate and behind Europe in level, but the league is improving.
• Being Ronaldo’s teammate at Al Nassr: “He’s a big worker…he live for that and you can see it…he’s always where he has to be…” ([32:57])

9. Return to Athletic and Bond With Fans

[34:44]

• The transfer nearly collapsed; Laporte was “scared” about missing the World Cup season.
• Felt immense warmth from fans and the club; feels duty to repay their faith: “This is why I wanted to come back…The fans, all the people, even my friends, my old friends…that doesn’t happen in many, many places…I tried to do my best to give them back…” ([35:34])
• Close relationship with manager Ernesto Valverde, who lives in the same building (!).

10. Winning Mentality and What Drives Him Forward

[37:16] & [38:16]

• Highlights the immense pressure and “obligation” to win every match at City, where a draw felt “like end of the world.”
• Admits he’s a “bad loser” and values that drive: “I wanted all my life…to reach a team that just for details, you know, want to win every time. Every time.” ([38:15])
• Looks ahead to World Cup ambition, further trophies with Athletic, and being remembered as an “important piece…good person.” ([39:43])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Guardiola’s tactical demands:

  “The way to understand football, you know, the tactical situation in a game, that is the most important thing I learned from him. And he's different. Football that you can see anywhere…”
  (Aymeric Laporte, [10:16])

• On the Champions League heartbreaks:

  “Small details…sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not. But I think we could win at least…3 usually for stupid mistake, if you want to say. Or lucky or no lucky situation.”
  (Laporte, [15:53])

• On switching from France to Spain:

  “I feel also big part of me feel also Spanish because, you know, with 15 years old, I was already here until 22 years old. It was seven years…”
  (Laporte, [22:49])

• On winning mentality at City:

  “It was obvious for us as City players to win every single game, you know, to draw one game or to lose one game in City, it was like end of the world…in the moment, [pressure] is negative, but after it, I think it's positive…makes you want it every time more, more and more.”
  (Laporte, [37:16], [37:51])

• On Cristiano Ronaldo:

  “He’s a big worker, you know, he like to train himself to maintain his body in the biggest health possible…even fitter than the young guys. So imagine, and the top scorer, he scored many goals. He's always where he has to be…”
  (Laporte, [32:57])

• On his ongoing motivation:

  “I want to make this club bigger every day and to help them to reach…the highest level.”
  (Laporte, [28:26])

• On legacy:

  “I would like to be important piece of…the athletic player that play at the highest level. Big player achieve some more trophies, you know, and good person.”
  (Laporte, [39:51])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early Years & Basque Heritage: [02:57]–[06:00]
• Youth Ascension at Athletic & Bielsa: [06:20]–[08:34]
• Premier League Debut & Life at City: [08:58]–[14:14]
• On Pep and Tactics: [10:16], [14:10], [14:46]
• Champions League & City Legends: [15:36]–[18:46]
• Injury & Mental Strength: [18:54]–[21:25]
• Switch to Spain National Team: [21:34]–[24:26]
• Euro 2024 & Young Spanish Stars: [24:26]–[28:18]
• Saudi Arabia Experience & Ronaldo: [31:06]–[34:03]
• Return to Athletic, Pressure, Motivation: [34:44]–[39:51]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is candid, slightly self-deprecating, and threaded with humility and “big picture” perspective. Laporte is generous with credit to teammates and coaches, direct about setbacks and doubts, but always anchored by an intense drive to win and improve. He laughs warmly about his own struggles (“I’m a bad loser”) and shares open advice for young prodigies. The rapport with the interviewer is relaxed and sometimes playful, matching the sunny day in Bilbao and the homecoming spirit of the episode.

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Final Note

Even listeners unfamiliar with Laporte’s journey will finish this episode with a strong sense of the inner workings of a top modern footballer—what it takes to break through, survive setbacks, support new talent, and constantly seek new heights. For City fans, Spain supporters, and all football romantics, this is a compelling, detailed, and inspiring listen.

Transcript

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[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Hello and welcome to the Wrestlers Football La Liga. I am very happy to say we're joined by Emerick Laporte here at Athletic Clubs training ground. It's a beautiful day here in Bilbao. Emerick, great to have you with us. How are you all?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Good, thank you.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And the view behind us here, absolutely stunning. And this is a part of the old Saint Marmes Stadium which they knocked down. You were here, weren't you? You played there?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, of course.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And that was brought here to the Training ground as a symbol of the old stadium. Pretty special, isn't it?

[Aymeric Laporte]

That it is, yes.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Thank you for coming on the podcast. How are you all? Good. What a beautiful day.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Good to you? Yeah, beautifully.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I wore a jumper. I thought it was supposed to be cold here and rainy.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, normally used to rain, but not today. Today, nice weather.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You arrived here when you were 15 years old. How does it feel to be back? Is this home for you?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, it's like home for me because as you said, With 15 years old, I came here, I was still children, you know, I was going to the school, I learned so many things, even the language I didn't even know. And I grew up here. So I'm very happy to come back here to be in this club around all these magnificent people, you know, I know most of them since a long time when I came as a Neo Reef, you know, it was with me, Le Que, you know, so many people, so many guys I used to be with when I was children. And now with the first team back after many years out and very happy.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

When you were a young boy, is it true that it wasn't just football, you played rugby as well? Your grandfather was a rugby player?

[Aymeric Laporte]

No, my father.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And why did you decide to play?

[Aymeric Laporte]

I call tennis. Not my mother, not my father, my mother football. He used to play football.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Really?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, really.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And your brother's a footballer as well?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, he tried. He tried right now, he stopped it, but yeah, tried.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And your great grandparents are from the Basque Country? Did you always feel a connection, the Basque heritage?

[Aymeric Laporte]

I can say that, big connection. But of course, it was a part of my life, you know, when I grew up, I used to go Bayona, Anglet, all these small town in Basque country, in the French side, you know, Y paralde is called? Yeah, I went many, many, many times.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

When you joined, was there any conversations, local debate about whether you were. Whether you were from the Basque Country?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, but it's not because of that I'm here. It's because when I came, I was still young, I did many categories in athletic law and I play. I had to play one, one year in Bayona, you know, also. So it was in Basque. So when you grow up, the philosophy of the club is when you grow up in the Basque country, you know, you are allowed to play in this club also. And it wasn't the plan, but at the end appeared this opportunity and we tried Atletica and myself to do the connection. And obviously it was there. So this is why I can play here.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

And very happy There are so many top players from the Basque country and top managers as well. What is it about? About the Basque Country? Is there something in the water here?

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah. That make it like the club, very special because they work very well in the Basque Country. Also many, many former team that make the player better. You know, so many ex players doing manager, explaining how to do it, you know, and learning the.

The people how to grow up, how to be a football player. And this is why every time, every year there is so many players or many players that are getting a big level. And as I can see since I arrived here, there is people, players from the second team or third team that are amazing.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

201213 season was your breakthrough season, wasn't it? You were in the youth team that year and then you moved up. How many categories was it? Four categories to get to the first team, I think.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, even more because I started Cadete and there is Juanil after and Juanila. And after there is Basconia and Bilbao Athletic. And after first division, so five. But in one season, three, because I start Basconia, I went to Bilbao Athletic and after first division.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

So in one season you moved up three age groups, eventually ending up in the first team. Marcelo Bielsa, the manager at the time who discovered your talent, he said in a press conference, I didn't realize just how good Aymeric Laporte was. How did you make him realize how good you were?

[Aymeric Laporte]

The story is tricky because his right hand said to him that he saw me in the World cup in Mexico. It was.

Under 17. I was playing with France in that time. He told to Marcelo to say that he was a player in the club that was competing in the World cup and I was doing great. And he said to him could be a possibility to me to, you know, to go with the first team, to train some time or to see how I felt and everything. And Marcel was a bit. I don't know is what he said to me.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Not convinced, not convinced.

[Aymeric Laporte]

And after I played.

One game in Saint Ms. Against Arsenal in this competition, I don't know how it's called.

You wait for youth league, youth league. And it was one game in Saint against Arsenal. And this game was very tough and I played really well and Marcelo see me in this game. And he said, let's try this guy to the first team and we'll see what happens. And after that I never come back down.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You played with some top managers, but just how much did you learn playing under Marcelo Bielsa? What was that experience?

[Aymeric Laporte]

A lot. Yeah. A lot. You know, he's a tough coach in terms of physicality, condition, because he want, you know, man to man. Sometime even when we play with one man less, like 10 against 11, he's man to man, full 90 minutes, you know, and it was difficult, but I enjoy a lot and I learned a lot from him.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

January 2018, you moved to the Premier League to play for Manchester City. What was it like your first Premier League game? Do you remember thinking, this is tough.

[Aymeric Laporte]

The day just after I arrived, I played the first game, so I had not even time to think about it.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Less than 24 hours.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah. I had not even my boots in the training camp when I arrived, and he wanted me to train. So we bought some shoes in the shop. I trained, and the day after play already, so it was so, so fast. I didn't expect that because I stopped maybe 10 days before I traveled there because of, you know, transfer situation, situation and everything. So I didn't train during 10 days. And after you wanted me to play directly straight away. Yeah, it was excited, you know, and we. We won three nil. And I did a great, great match also. So malleable.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

So you just went shopping for some boots, Premier League, you didn't go. Someone went for you. Do you still have those boots?

[Aymeric Laporte]

I don't.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Special pair, though.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, but I have so many.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

So let's talk about Pep Guardiola. What's one bit of advice he's maybe given you that stayed with you?

[Aymeric Laporte]

To me, not directly. He didn't give me any advice that I can say, yeah, this advice he gave to me. But the way to understand football, you know, the tactical situation in a game, that is the most important thing I learned from him. And he's different. Football that you can see anywhere, I mean, you enjoy playing this football, you know, when you like to have the ball and everything. And most of the footballers in the world like to play football, but not just to run and run behind the ball and. No, you like to play football because you have skills, you want to do skills, you want to win the games. And is what we have done during the six years I spent there, we won five Premier League. So when you achieve those things, you know, it's just unbelievable. You enjoy a lot because, yeah, it's good to play, but to play and win, that is even better.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Five Premier Leagues, as you say, which one was the most special for you?

[Aymeric Laporte]

There is so many because one of them I scored in the last game of the season.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Brighton.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah, Brighton.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

What do you remember about that day.

[Aymeric Laporte]

We had to win. And we started losing one nil. And we were like crazy because the situation was one point different. I think with Liverpool we had to win this game. If it was a draw, we were second in the league. So we start 1 nil losing and after a weirdo score and I scored the second one. That made the turn of the match. But yeah, that is. That was unbelievable. And the season I think is 21, 22. We finished one point head of Liverpool also. And we won 14 games in a row until the end. So that was very special. Also because we suffered a lot. Because also, you know, in your mind you always hope that something will happen, that it will be easier than that. What you think, you know, because Liver was winning every game in the naughty third second minutes. Sorry. @ the end of the game, every time. So in 90 minutes we were like, they will draw. We will be two point head or something like that. Score in the last minute, scoring the last minute. We were like, oh no, we will have to win again and win again and win again. And as I said, we won the league for one point and 14 games in a row winning. So that is was very tough, very.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Difficult. And your first season was unbelievable as well. 2017, 18 unprecedented 100 points. What was the intensity like that season? The training sessions? And was it a big jump from La Liga? How different was.

[Aymeric Laporte]

It? I think.

It'S more tactical than more physical. I think when you understand the role of Pep is very easy. And the only one thing is there is some players that take more time to understand his football, because they don't understand some at the end is Mathematic, because when he explains you, you know, where is the space? Where have to be the space? You have to do the commitment, you have to do many things that maybe you say, why I should do this? If I pass directly the ball. And after he explain you, you understand why you do one thing, why you do other things and you keep or you reach the level you want and you understand what he thinks in his mind, you know, and after everything is easier in the.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Pitch. What's the most interesting tactical instruction he's given.

[Aymeric Laporte]

You? Every game, every minute is totally different. You depend on 11 players in front of you and 11 players of you. So 22 people in the pitch. There is many different situation. I cannot say to you. Cross the ball, pass inside, depending on how they defend. If they play five in the back, four in the back, how they press, if they come up, if they stay down. So there are many ways. This is what you have to understand you cannot play in the same way all the games. And this is what you have to understand to be on the next.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Level. Something that he did differently. Maybe the way he coached you, the way he trained, was there something that stood out for you, the way he was with you as a.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Group? I think as a group, he.

Don'T have like he can have a proper conversation with one guy or one player to explain something that maybe didn't understand. But at the end is a group, the tactic doesn't depend on one player, because one player is not enough to solve all the problems. And more, if you face Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea or whatever, you know, the big teams, they are organized also. And every game is different situation, as I said, exploit all the options that can happen in the game and where will be the weakest part of.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Them. You won five Premier League titles, but there were some near misses with the Champions League and eventually won it in 2023. What was it about the mentality of that Champions League winning.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Side? You know, we could. I think we could win more Champions League.

The years before, but.

Champions League, small details, you know. You know, we could even lose this season for some details. The Champions League in final stage, like against Bayern. I remember some mistake even in the. In the final, there is some passes, one against one, the keeper stopped the shoot and it could be 10 for them. And you know, small detail that also depend of the other team when they miss and when you score or the other side also happens the other way. So some details that sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not. But I think we could win at least in the 6 season. 3 usually for stupid mistake, if you want to say. Or lucky or no lucky situation. I think yeah, this is one of my opinion and.

My wish I wanted to do in the past, you know, I'm sad because of that a little bit in the City, but it is what it is, you know, one is also good. But I wanted to achieve a little bit more in that. In that.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Sense. You were playing alongside some legendary players as well. Sergio Guero, Vincent Kompani, Davis Silva. Who was most influential, would you say? Which.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Teammate? I think as Manchester City. The three of them are huge because I think they won the first Premier League. The situation was also unbelievable. I've seen the goal of Aguaro maybe 500 times. When I arrived there, there were all of them legends, you know, when I arrived city, Aguero, Co. Silva, all of them though was like top, top, top player level playing with national team. And it was an honor for me. To play alongside them, to learn from them. And even yesterday and this morning I spoke with Abuelo.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Again. What were you saying to.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Him? No, how are you? I'm here. And you know, he said, where are you? What are you doing? Just asking a few questions like normal. But he was a good friend of Min and yeah, very, very happy to have learned from them and to have played with them. It was unbelievable. And I'm sad also for Wero because what you have done for the club, for the football in general, and to didn't catch this Champions League alongside him, you know, mean a lot, but it. What it is, you know, we cannot change anything. But top players, I have a big relationship with.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Them. Your injury in 2019, how hard was that for you mentally? The knee injury and yeah, I remember getting back into the team.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Again. Yeah, you had a few of them there and so unlucky because it was all of them at my highest level, you know.

In 1920. And I remember I was called up by France for international duty and the game before I got injured and that was very, very difficult to accept because, you know, I had before, before this one, other injuries, and I didn't want it to go through again. You know, I have. I knew the process, you know, it's always difficult to come back and more in the. In the big squad like Man City, you know, when you miss one, two, three months, you never know what happened after because you never know if someone will come and will do better than you or you will come back as you were before. And this is why you suffer. You know, the most important thing, if that your mind, your head, to accept it and to understand that will be a process you have to go through and you have to do your best to come back at your best.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Level. And do you think you came back stronger.

[Aymeric Laporte]

After? I always come back stronger. I had the ankle injury, big injury. I had three injuries in the right knee, one in the left. And at the end, after all of this, I want to.

Championship. So very happy, very happy. I'm always back. I work hard to get always my. My highest level as I can. And yeah, very.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Happy. What gets you through those dark times? Is it the people around you and your.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Family? Yeah, but I like to hide myself, you know, to. Yeah, to think myself about everything, to. To think about opportunities, about what I'm missing and that give me a big strength, you know. And mentally, my mental is very strong, you know, and is what I always do, you know, I think about myself, about what I wanted to do, what I want to what I want to achieve, what I want in the in the future. And that may give me that power to come back stronger every.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Time. I guess you learn a lot about yourself during those times as well. Having all that time on your own with your.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Thoughts. Yes, it's difficult, but I'm happy to be where I am.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Today. Moving on to talk about national team. Captained every age group, youth level for France and then made that switch to Spain in 2021. What was the main reason? Why did you do that? Why.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Spain? Basically because after five years playing in the first level, first division here in Athletic and after in Man City, I didn't call up by France, you know, we had some issues also with Deschamps, you know, the manager. So after these years and this amount of games in top level, you know what I wanted and what football player wish I think always is to play for big events like can be European Cup, World cup, this kind of event, you know, there are amazing experience and that is what I wanted to do. And I didn't have the chance to do it with France. And I feel also big part of me feel also Spanish because, you know, with 15 years old, I was already here until 22 years old. It was seven years.

Here and all my friends, my teammates was playing for Spain also. So I decided to play there. You know, I wanted to play the big trophies and I did right. I think I enjoyed a lot. I have the confidence of the manager, the one before, the one now. And I'm really happy to enjoy this moment with my family even because they wanted to see me there and they are very.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Happy. You say you had friends playing in the Spanish national team, but what about your French teammates? Was there any disappointment there? They saying, what are you doing? Stay with.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Us. I think the mentality in France is a bit different. And even with the guys or the players I used to play in France, I still keep contact with them. There is no problem. Football is, is a game in life. It's not the most important thing. I think for us it's very important because you know, football is our life. But looking around, there is more things important than football. And with my teammates in France, we keep in touch. Every time command come to me in Al Hazer, you know, he signed there, we met there, we were in touch already before. But you know, no, no problem at.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

All. And winning Euro 2024 must be the ultimate validation that you did make the right decision. Incredible achievement. Where does that achievement rank for you in your.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Career? This achievement is I think number one because I felt very important for the team and I played, I played well, I felt very good. And it was, you know.

On the beginning of the stage, it was difficult because all the press was against me because I played in Saudi Arabia, you know, not the best marketing ever. So I had this challenge to prove to everyone that playing there doesn't mean.

I left football. I always want to win every single game. If I go national team, it's because I want to win and I think I have the level. So that was. Was very important for me and we did a great. But you said something that is wrong for me, that is not because I won the Euro.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

That. The.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Validation. Yeah, it's not a validation for me is a validation in terms of life because that reflects more my, my, myself, the. The how I live, how I, you know, I have very, very good relationship with my teammate, with the manager, as I said, with the staff over there. There are like my family, we are in touch. Even outside of the national team, we are calling up every time and that is very important for me. You know, the personality of the guys and the relationship in between the.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

People. You played alongside the incredible Lamine Diamal. Did he seem 16 years old to you on the.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Pitch? Yeah.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Did he seem 16.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Or. No, he didn't seem. But you know, many players like Nico Williams also is young and very good. We didn't want the European League just because it's like this is because we have a fantastic group, every player at this moment and we all have done a great job and I hope this summer will do something.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Fantastic. Also, as one of the more experienced players, do you offer Nico and Lamine advice? What do you say to them? What's your.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Message? I would like to give them a little bit more advice, but they don't like me, so I will try to solve.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

It. But yeah, what's the main message? What do you want to be saying to.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Them? Most of the thing is for Lamine, you know, still young, as you said, you know, he's differential player is top, top level, number two in the Ballon.

[Podcast Co-host (Rest is Football)]

D'.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Or.

But also, you know, this is football and you can be on the top level and you can go down very fast. You have to be humble, you have to be calm. And sometimes when you don't have this kind of person that will make you have the feet on the floor, you know, can be difficult for himself to realize what is good or what is not good because everyone will give you the reason, you know. Yeah, you are right. But sometimes you need this kind of guy that remind you where you're from, how you come here, why. And you know, that doesn't mean he's a bad guy. That doesn't mean anything. I have big relation with him. We speak many times together. But you know, sometimes players like me that have more experience can give some advice for him because maybe one day I don't hope that happened, but he can go a little bit down and himself in his head can think bad things and he doesn't have to think about many other things than the pitch, you know, to work every day and enjoy because he is a talented.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Player. And you've won the biggest trophies at club and international level. What drives you now? What motivates you every day to keep.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Going? You know, big trophies. I won, as I said, this summer there is a big, big competition as a World cup that is a big emotional competition. I want to reach my biggest level.

This competition is the highest level in the world where all the players are, the best players are. And yeah, we have to show up. Also in Atletic Bilbao, you know, I just won one competition, Super Copa Espana. And hopefully I can win more titles here. I want to make this club bigger every day and to help them to reach, you know, the highest.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Level. England, the team to beat again. Our viewers won't want to hear.

[Aymeric Laporte]

That. Yeah, we will try. You know, everyone want to win, but we will. We will see what.

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[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Protection.

You mentioned your move to Saudi Arabia, maybe controversial. What was that experience like for you? How would you compare life in Riyadh for you and your family with life in Bilbao or.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Manchester? No, it's different. Is not better nor worse. You know, it's different. It's just different. Just different culture. And yeah, some people who are living there from ever, you know, they are happy with it. It's true that when you taste Europe is different than there and if you take the normal condition here is difficult to adapt you there for a few years, there is no problem. I had no problem to adapt me there. It's true that in the club not everything was going well. You know, we changed so many times, staff.

Manager, CEO and that make a bit difficult, you know, the process there. But a part of that happy to have lived this experience there and happy to come back here.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Also. What's the level of football like out there? Is it different kind of.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Football? Yeah, it's different football, but also it's different because, you know, the weather is different, totally different. You cannot expect to run 13 kilometers per game with 47 degrees. You know, during a game or something, you know, there is some different thing that you cannot, you know, fight against. But there is so many good players there, you know, they are going so many of them. And yeah, I think the league is improving every day. Let's see in the future if they will catch the European level or the biggest leagues. But yeah, good.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Experience. Speaking of good players, he played with Cristiano Ronaldo for Al Nassir. 40 years old, still at the highest level. What's it like on a day to day basis working with.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Him? Yeah, he's a big worker, you know, he like to train himself to maintain his body in the biggest health possible. You know, he live for that and you can see it how he is as his body. You know, he's very fit, even fitter than the young guys. So imagine and the top scorer, he scored many goals. He's always where he has to be, you know, even if he is not doing many, many things. He's always on the good position, good place at the right.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Moment. Are you still good friends with.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Cristiano? Do you speak to.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Him? Yeah, a few messages and yeah.

[Aymeric Laporte]

You know, when, you know, when I left, obviously we spoke a little bit before, but since then, nothing to say about, you know, we play Spain against Portugal and that's all. We are not the best friend in terms of speaking every day or teaching, you know, showing up, anything. But yeah, if I have to say something to him or him to. To me, we have our number, we can text each other. There is no. No.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Problem. Do you have one best friend in.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Football? In football.

Yeah, I have a few of them, but Brahim Diaz, you know, since City. Yeah, big, big relation. Always there after he and Athletic Bilbao, very good relation with Aduri, you know, bigger relation. And always, you know, they are always like all good friends here. No, no need to be the best friend to. To. To speak each other, to. To meet outside of the beach. We enjoy a.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Lot. And you came back here this summer? It took time, the transfer. Was there ever a moment when you thought this might not.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Happen? Yeah, it was strange because a few days before the end of the market, I was sure that everything was solved. But after happened some things and I was stopped, you know, so it was, what is happening? What is going on now? And I was scared because maybe I could not play until gym until January. Sorry. So it was a bit, you know, what will happen, because big season head. At the end of the season there is a World cup. So I wanted to be prepared for everything and to don't miss the. The chance, the opportunity, you know.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You were brought in because there was a defensive crisis. They really needed you to come here, steady the ship at the back. What does that mean to you? The fact they wanted you so much and how much do you want to give back to this club.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Now? Yeah, that was unbelievable. All the messages I received from Bilbao, all the fans, all the people from here was unbelievable. And this is why I wanted to come back also because, you know, the community here, the. The fans, the. All the people, even my friends, my whole friends from here wanted me here. So I felt this, you know, this emotional part of the people want wanting me to. To come back here. And that doesn't happen in many, many places. So I took the opportunity and, you know, I tried to do my best to give them back the opportunity to the club and also to the fans, that they trust me since a long time.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Now. You'd worked under Ernesto Valverde before as well. When you were here last time, was that helpful? Did he call you? Were you chatting with him a.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Lot? Yeah, we were meeting many times during the years, because even if I was playing in Manchester or. Or in Saudi Arabia, I was coming here because my family is from here, like my. My wife's family is from here. So we were coming back here many times and we Were living in the same building. So sometime in the, in the parking we were meeting and, and we were talking a little bit about everything.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

After. Was he asking you to come.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Back? Not directly, you know, but he said, what is your plan? What. What you will do? Are you happy.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

There? Are you.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Sure? Strong message.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Like. And having experienced the immense pressure of having to win week in, week out in Manchester City, how would you say it compares here? How does the culture compare.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Here? Yeah, this is a big difference because when I came here the first week I didn't feel this, you know, pressure that can have man City. And also it was obvious for us as City players to win every single game, you know, to draw one game or to lose one game in City, it was like end of the world. Yeah, yeah. Dead experience, you know, you were coming back to the dressing room and everyone faced.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Down. Can it be negative or is it a good thing as well? That winning mentality, I felt.

[Aymeric Laporte]

It.

In the moment, negative, you know, but after it, I think it's positive, you know, because that makes you wanted every time more, more and more. And you feel the obligation to win every single game, you know. And when you are playing for the. The best team in the world or one of the best team in the world, that is the level you want to reach and is what I wanted all my life, you know, I'm bad.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Loser.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Yeah. So when I, when I lose, I'm not really not happy. You can trust me. And that is one why I wanted to. To reach, you know, a team that just for details, you know, want to win every time. Every time. And to reach the biggest competition, play a good football, enjoy the pitch. And this is why I enjoy a lot this season. It was very tough, very difficult, but at the end it's a magnificent experience, you.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Know. So you say you hate losing probably since you were a young boy growing up, playing with your brother and father. So do you think. And father. So do you think that's you've always had that winning mentality? It's not something that happened at Manchester City. It's not something that you've got within you from Manchester City. You've always had that winning.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Mentality? I think.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yes. Ernesto Valverde, Marcelo Bielsa, Pep Guardiola, these top, top managers that you've worked under, is there a common thread between them? Any.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Similarities? No, I just think that they have their own style. They play different football, you know, and different mentality. And they don't have, you know, they want to win all of them, but each one has own.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Style. You've signed a three year contract here. Now how do you want to be remembered by athletic club? The fan base when you eventually.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Hang up your boots, they want. I don't know. I will not decide myself but. But I would like to.

Be important piece of, you know, the athletic player that play at the highest level. Big player achieve some more trophies, you know, and good person. That's.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

All. What a place this is. Amy, thank you so much. It's been an absolute pleasure. Good luck this.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Season. I hope my English is.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Not. Your English is perfect. Your English is absolutely perfect. Two years good in L. Yeah, exactly. Because you're not speaking it here.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Right? Well, there's in Saudi Arabia, yes, I'm D. But here at.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

All. No.

[Aymeric Laporte]

English. English free zone here at all.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Okay. Well, your English is.

[Aymeric Laporte]

Top. Thank you very.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Much. Thank you so much. Thank.

[Aymeric Laporte]

You. Thank you. See you soon.