Aymeric Laporte wants to stay at Manchester City for a 'long time', and has ruled out a transfer to France in the short term.
Laporte, 28, still has three years left on his contract at City, but only last year was openly discussing the possibility of leaving when he found himself out of favour and out of the team.
However, he rediscovered his form and reclaimed his spot last season to play a pivotal role in City's Premier League title win, taking his trophy collection since moving to the Etihad to 11, including Community Shields. Now, in an interview with French outlet RMC to mark the naming of a stadium after him in his hometown, Laporte has effectively committed his future to City until at least the end of his current deal, signed in 2019.
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Reflecting on the season just gone, and asked if he will be staying for the upcoming campaign, Laporte said: "Four league trophies yes, but that's eleven in all. It's not just the Premier League. It's very good for the club and for me. I'm happy to benefit people here too by bringing the Premier League trophy. It had never happened.
"So I'm super happy with this season that I've had, despite an injury at the end of the season. I was able to hold on until the end.
"Yes [I am staying this season], I'm super happy and fit. The team too. There remains only the common objective, the Champions League, but we will do everything to get it this year."
Laporte was then pressed if he would ever play in Ligue 1 one day, but he insisted he sees his long-term future at City.
"For now, that's not the goal," he said. "I still have three years of contract. I'm happy and the club too.
"I played a lot of minutes: I am the central defender who had the most. I am a reference and I am very happy that the coach and Manchester City have confidence in me. So why not go on for a long time?"
Looking ahead to the new season, Laporte spoke of Erling Haaland's arrival — rubbishing the suggestion that the new number nine may struggle to adapt to Pep Guardiola's tactics — and reiterated City's desire to win the Champions League.
He said: "We made some good recruits. Haaland will bring us space, speed and impact in attack. Something we've been missing in recent years, as we were playing without a striker with Pep's style of play. It will be much better and we hope for more titles.
"I have no idea [if Haaland will adapt to Guardiola]. But people speak without knowing.
"We have the Champions League in mind, but it will help us to win it, to improve, to improve our end of the match and to realize the difficulty of winning this competition. I hope we will do better and win it this year."
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