Laporte switches from France to Spain ahead of Euro 2020

<p>ZURICH &mdash; Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is switching from France to Spain ahead of the European Championship. </p>
<p>FIFA said Friday it approved the switch of eligibility after the French soccer federation consented to the Spanish federation’s request. </p>
<p>Now 26, Laporte is a former France under-21 international but has never played for the senior national team. </p>
<p>France coach Didier Deschamps seemed likely to select Laporte in 2019 until a serious knee injury playing for Man City sidelined him for several months.</p>
<p>The Spanish government said on Tuesday it had given Laporte citizenship.</p>
<p>Laporte, who was born in France, said he has family roots in the Basque region and spent eight years with Athletic Bilbao before being bought by Man City in 2018.</p>
<p>Spain’s opening match at Euro 2020 is scheduled for June 14 in Seville against Sweden.</p>
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