‘Completely understandable’ but we ‘can’t blame Pep on this one’ – Man City fans react as star ace fed up of being used as a ‘luxury substitute’

Manchester City fans have been reacting to a post on Twitter which relays a report that claims Aymeric Laporte is ‘ready to leave’ the Club during the upcoming summer transfer window.

The 28 year-old has had a very stop-start campaign up until this point for Manchester City, registering just 15 appearances across all competitions under Pep Guardiola, and contributing one assist in the process.

Knee surgery last summer meant the Spain international was absent for the opening matches of the 2022/23 season, while the World Cup break in the middle of the campaign, as well as a recent bout with illness, has seen Aymeric Laporte struggle for consistent game time.

When the former Athletic Bilbao defender has featured, he has certainly impressed, but the fine form of Nathan Ake at left-back, as well as the return of Ruben Dias and John Stones, may have seen Laporte fall down the pecking order at a crucial time of the season.

As such, a new report to have emerged this week has claimed that Laporte may in fact seek an exit from Manchester City during the upcoming summer transfer window, largely in search of more frequent game time.

According to the information of French outlet FootMercato, who report that Aymeric Laporte is now ‘ready to leave’ Manchester City, having become a ‘luxury substitute’ for Pep Guardiola this season.

The report, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, also recalls that the Spain international’s name had been on the sights of Barcelona, when the Catalan club were looking for a replacement for Gerard Pique.

While Laporte certainly remains an important member of Manchester City’s squad, providing solidity and composure in defence, a change this summer would fall in line with the general plans across the first-team playing squad, with a significant overhaul anticipated.

The report shared on Twitter gathered a number of replies from a wide range of Man City supporters.

@rahmanmizan89: “Who wouldn’t be?”

@darrenmancity: “Completely understandable, he’s a world class centre back playing 4th/5th choice..”

@Relly_95: “Don’t blame him. He starts at almost every other club.”

@MCFCOK47: “Dont blame him for that tbf, it’ll be hard to find someone with that good technique.”

@Kingroronoa1: “Would be feed up if I am benched by Akanji as well.”

@JakePritchardFC: “He’s been injured lol. I can’t blame Pep on this one..”

@ruiningfootball: “I’m fed up with him being injured or ill.”

@Yahya76191709: “Deserved. Can we also blame pep? Akanji, Dias and Ake have been playing really well. wouldn’t make sense to take them out of rotation to get him playtime.”