RIC ROLLED
World’s third-highest paid defender set to be unemployed after ripping up £390k contract with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side
He could be set for a move to a European giant
AYMERIC LAPORTE is set to become unemployed after ripping up his contract at Al-Nassr.
The former Manchester City star is the third-highest-paid defender in the world with a weekly paycheck of £390,000.
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Only former Chelsea flop Kalidou Koulibaly and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk earn more than the Spaniard.
Koulibaly is on an eye-watering £553,225-per-week at Al-Hilal while Van Dijk recently signed a £400,000-per-week deal at Anfield.
Laporte, 30, made the move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 and has made 69 appearances for the club.
He signed a three-year deal with Al-Nassr that was due to expire in 2026.
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However, he could walk away from the club - and his monster salary - before it ends.
Spanish outlet reports Laporte has endured a "difficult relationship" with manager Stefano Pioli.
He was left out of the squad for Al-Nassr's Asian Champions League semi-final defeat against Kawasaki Frontale.
Laporte will not be short of options should he leave the club in the coming days.
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Real Madrid were previously linked with a move for Laporte before he left Man City.
The LaLiga giants are again in the market for a defender but are more likely to swoop for a younger player.
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Elsewhere, Ligue 1 outfit Marseille are among the favourites to snatch up the 40-capped ace.
Laporte has been joined by some star names at Al-Nassr such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Jhon Duran and Marcelo Brozovic.
He has previously admitted to making the move to Riyadh for non-footballing reasons.
He said: "To be honest, many of us have also come here not only for football.
"Many of us are happy with that, but I am also looking for something beyond that is not the economic part and such.
"In terms of quality of life, I expected something different because in the end here you spend three hours a day in the car.
"Riyadh is a waste of traffic, of time wasted in the car."
Laporte's career by numbers
Here is a look at Aymeric Laporte's career...
Club
Athletic Bilbao, 2012–2018
- Appearances - 222
- Goals - 10
Manchester City, 2018–2023
- Appearances - 180
- Goals - 12
Al-Nassr, 2023-present
- Appearances - 69
- Goals - 9
International
Spain, 2021-present
- Caps - 40
- Goals - 2
Honours:
Supercopa de Espana x1, Premier League x5, FA Cup x2, EFL Cup x3, Community Sheild x1, Champions League x1, Uefa Super Cup x1, Euros x1, Nations League x1
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