Family history would suggest Aymeric Laporte had a better chance of representing France in the Six Nations than playing football at Wembley.

Dad Lionel was a good second division rugby player in Agen Slot, http://servicesmt.com/,, but he recommended that his son chose a different sport.

‘He didn't want me to play rugby because it is very hard on the body,' reveals Aymeric. ‘So I picked up my love for football at school and the rest is history.'

At 6ft 3in, Aymeric wouldn't have looked out of place on a rugby pitch.

But there's no doubt the gentle fatherly advice has already reaped rewards.

Last month, the commanding centre-half hit the jackpot by joining Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao in a £57million deal that was the most expensive in City's history.

Now, less than four weeks later, he has the chance to help them win the first trophy of the Pep Guardiola era when they play Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. It would be the first dividend on a £380million investment in players over the past three transfer windows.

City are runaway leaders in the Premier League and warm favourites to win on Sunday.

There was a glitch on Monday when they lost 1-0 to Wigan in the FA Cup, and lifting silverware would be the perfect riposte.

‘We had a very bad night though people tell me we have this terrible record against Wigan,' reflects Laporte on only his third match for City. ‘We knew it was going to be difficult and obviously we had a man sent off in the first half.

‘Right now the important thing is what is ahead of us — a cup final.

Winning would be a great step forward and that first trophy would definitely help the development of the team. It's clear that winning trophies increases confidence.'

Guardiola knows exactly the type of player he wants to sign. Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva were purchased to offer a combination of speed and stealth.