Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte has admitted that he experienced "jealousy" this summer as France won the 2018 World Cup without him in the squad.
The 24-year-old became the second most expensive defender of all time - after Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk - after completing a £56.7m transfer from Athletic Bilbao in January.
Laporte made 13 appearances in all competitions in 2017-18 as the Citizens clinched a Premier League and EFL Cup double.
However, the Frenchman - who is also eligible to play for Spain - is yet to win a cap at senior level for Les Bleus and did not make Didier Deschamps's 23-man squad for Russia.
"It was a really good summer," Laporte told the Man City website. "There was plenty of relaxing with family and friends. I was really happy to get back home after a tough season.
"[Watching the World Cup], there was jealousy, to be honest. The decisions were made and you just have to accept them – that's how it is in football.
"It didn't come as a surprise to me that I wasn't involved. I hadn't been in the previous squad – that had been named without me – but it was still a little disappointing for me not to be involved."
A recent report from England claimed that Spain are ready to make another attempt to convince Laporte to change his international allegiance.
Giuseppe Labellarte
