Aymeric Laporte says he has spoken to France manager Didier Deschamps about his international career ahead of this summer's Euro 2020 tournament.
Amazingly, Manchester City defender Laporte has still not been capped for the World Champions - although he has been called up to the squad on four occasions without playing.
Before his inclusion in Deschamps' squad at the start of the season, Laporte had been overlooked for the senior team for over two years since he sat on the bench in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Spain in March 2017.
His call-up in August was well overdue, but he unfortunately suffered his long-term injury against Brighton two days later in the Premier League.
Now, Laporte has recovered from that injury and will return after the winter break as part of Pep Guardiola's first team plans.
Speaking to Telefoot (via GFFN), Laporte admitted he is targeting a call-up for the international break at the end of March, with a view to being included in France's squad for the summer's Euro 2020 tournament - something he has spoked to Deschamps about specifically.
“The squad announcement in March? I look at all the squad announcements. I hope that I will be there," Laporte said.
"It has been bouncing around my head for a while, I spoke with Didier Deschamps about coming back for Les Bleus, I am trying to show that I have the qualities to make the French national team.
"Certainly, making the Euros at the end of this year would be the best thing.”
In December 2018, Laporte spoke about his international career, saying he felt he should have been included in France's World Cup-winning squad of 2018.
"Of course I don't think it's because of a sporting issue, you'd have to ask him personally," Laporte said.
"I don't have anything personal against him, but if someone has a problem it's him and not me. I could be a world champion... but these are the decisions of the coach, who is not calling me for, I think, personal reasons, and I have to respect him."
Deschamps, however, hit back, saying Laporte's omission from his squads was purely tactical.
"I do not understand [why Laporte made those statements]. I do not know," he told RMC Sport.
"I do not have a problem with anyone. When I choose someone it is not for me. I repeat. I only have one thing to say to him and that is that he continues to perform well.
"If you tell me he must be in [Marseille centre-back Adil] Rami's place then I stop you right away. Sorry but two left-footed defenders at centre-back at international level... We have a lot of left-footers and few right-footers."
