France is where my heart is - Laporte

Aymeric Laporte admits he could still consider playing
for Spain in future but is adamant France are his first
choice.

Aymeric Laporte has underlined his desire to represent France
at senior level but cannot rule out turning his allegiance to
Spain.

The Athletic Bilbao centre-back, a regular for the France
Under-21 side, has yet to earn a cap for Didier Deschamps'
senior team despite his impressive rise to prominence in La
Liga.

Deschamps opted to call-up Loic Perrin to replace the injured
Mamadou Sakho in his latest squad and stated he would not
hand Laporte a spot simply to avoid the risk of him playing for
Spain.

Laporte himself later encouraged speculation he was willing to
accept a call-up from Spain coach Vicente del Bosque when he
posted a tweet reading "Anyway..." following the news of
Perrin's place.

But Laporte insists he was not criticising Deschamps and says
he remains determined to play for France in future, although the
opportunity to appear at the World Cup or European
Championships could sway his decision.

"I have a small injury. This is due to the accumulation of
matches. We've played every three days and the club preferred
not to take any risks," he said to RMC, explaining his absence
from the current squad.

"There's been lots of talk on social networks. It wasn't at
anyone, not the national team, Deschamps, or Perrin. I don't
have to justify myself in public.

"For now, no [Spain cannot tempt me]. As I said a few months
ago, in the last U-21 game, I announced it.
"I want to progress, to make the next step. I ha
ve to keep
working, but if the opportunity presents itself, I'll have to make a
choice.

"The French team is where my heart is, it's where I was born.
But if they don't give me a choice, I'd make a decision as a
World Cup or Euro is important to a footballer."