Aymeric Laporte has opened up about his departure from Manchester City, admitting he "regretted leaving" the club he now calls "the best in the world." In a candid new interview, the Athletic Bilbao defender reflected on his six-year stint at the Etihad Stadium, describing it as "one of the best things ever" in his career.

Laporte was a cornerstone of Pep Guardiola's dominant sides, winning five Premier League titles during his time in Manchester. After a brief spell with Al-Nassr in 2023, he has since found consistent first-team football at Athletic Bilbao. But despite the fresh start, the Spaniard's words reveal that leaving City left a lasting impression.

"I regretted leaving because I was at the best club in the world, City," Laporte told AS. "The way they take care of their players there is unique; you only realise it when you leave. When you arrive, it's impressive, and then once you get used to it, you see it as something commonplace, something normal. When you leave and you're no longer experiencing that special routine they have there, you realise how lucky you are."

Laporte's honesty echoes a familiar pattern among former City players—an initial sense of normality while at the club, followed by a dawning realization of what they had once it's gone. His comments come in the same week Guardiola delivered a passionate tribute to the club, using Laporte's own words as a springboard to highlight what makes City extraordinary from the inside.

For fans and athletes alike, Laporte's reflections serve as a reminder that the right environment—whether on the pitch or in the gear you wear—can make all the difference. At City, the culture of care and excellence is something players carry with them long after they leave. And as Laporte now knows, that's a feeling you can't replicate anywhere else.