Aymeric Laporte

[domalino]

It allows you to play for Bilbao in the the first place - they have a strict 'Must be Basque' policy - though they stretch that to the limit - basically playing as a youth in a Basque region (and there are 3 departments in France adjacent to the Pyrenees that count) or a great grandparent who is Basque.
It matters as they don't have many other player options and don't let players go easily. They'd rather lose the money and keep the player. Typically the player has to force the move to leave.

Grandparents being Basque isn't enough, let alone Great-grandparents.

Tommy Oar's proposed move to Athletic Bilbao fell through after the club deemed that the winger did not possess significant Basque heritage.

The Australian thought he could be eligible to play for the club thanks to his paternal grandparents being from the region, but Athletic only allow players born in the Basque Country or those who have come through the junior ranks to represent the club.

Despite the heritage, the 25-time capped Australian international, was told he was not eligible to represent the club

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-18/athletic-bilbao-reject-tommy-oar-over-insufficient-heritage/​

 

[BlueAnorak]

Grandparents being Basque isn't enough, let alone Great-grandparents.

Tommy Oar's proposed move to Athletic Bilbao fell through after the club deemed that the winger did not possess significant Basque heritage.

The Australian thought he could be eligible to play for the club thanks to his paternal grandparents being from the region, but Athletic only allow players born in the Basque Country or those who have come through the junior ranks to represent the club.

Despite the heritage, the 25-time capped Australian international, was told he was not eligible to represent the club

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-18/athletic-bilbao-reject-tommy-oar-over-insufficient-heritage/​

Clearly Laporte counts because he came through the Junior ranks then.

 

[blueparrot]

Clearly Laporte counts because he came through the Junior ranks then.

I thought it was because he was born in the Basque region of France.

 

[Lkzerinho]

I thought it was because he was born in the Basque region of France.

Thats it

 

[domalino]

I thought it was because he was born in the Basque region of France.

Thats it

No, he was born in Agen, which is outside French Basque Country. It's close, but not inside.

He qualifies because he went to Basque academies

 

[Cityfan]

I think he started as a child with Bayonne which is in the French Basque country before moving to Bilbao.

 

[supercity88]

I think he started as a child with Bayonne which is in the French Basque country before moving to Bilbao.

And therefore qualified to play for Bilbao - that's the answer, that's how he qualified... though I'm not sure why we're debating it as their recruitment team have already done the research!

 

[BlueAnorak]

I think he started as a child with Bayonne which is in the French Basque country before moving to Bilbao.

This is the one.
Bayonne is in the French Pyrenees Atlantique Department, one of the three French departments that form the French basque territory.

 

[BlueAnorak]

So as he plays for Bilbao and they have a limited population base to get players, he'll only leave if he demands to leave. Money is of not much interest to Bilbao.

 

[csit17]

does it really matter, he'll be manc soon enough :)