Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has branded Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte "one of the best centre-backs in La Liga".
Laporte's international future is a hot debate at the moment, with the 21-year-old currently skippering France's Under-21 team.
The youngster has revealed that he wants to represent the country of his birth, France, at full international level, but having not yet been capped, he is also eligible to play for Spain having been with Bilbao since 2009.
Del Bosque has said that Laporte has previously refused a call-up for La Roja as he wants to be named in the full French set-up.
"[Aymeric Laporte] is an old issue. We considered the possibility [of calling him up] when Fernando Hierro was [sporting director], but he refused our offer," Del Bosque told Radio Marca.
"He's a very good player, one of the best centre-backs in La Liga."
Laporte has long been linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Matt Law
