Athletic Bilbao president Jon Uriarte has again stated how close they were to re-signing Aymeric Laporte.

Eventually Laporte left Manchester City for Al-Nassr.

But Uriarte insisted: "At the club we do not lie. In the football industry there are rules to respect and first there is negotiating with the club that has the player's rights.

"There are also ways in which, complying with the law, you can be interested in the players' concerns. In the case of Laporte, I am convinced that if Al Nassr had not appeared, the player would be with us.

"But Laporte had a contract with City, and it was a two-year contract. The decision did not depend on Athletic or the player and it did depend on City."