This week, Aymeric Laporte was invited as a guest on the YouTube channel of former footballer Mario Suárez, titled "Mario's Journey." In the second part of the series (divided into five parts due to length), he shared his thoughts on Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Enrique, De la Fuente, and others.

What's the first thing you do when the referee blows the final whistle?

I hug the first person I see, drop to my knees, and look up at my family in the stands.

Do you ask to be substituted?

Yes. I'm exhausted, my body is stiff, and my legs can't support my weight anymore.

Who's the first person you think of when you win the championship?

Sadly, the first person I think of is my father, the one who pushed me into football, but he's no longer with us. Of course, my mother, wife, and children are in the stands too. My father should have been there. He watched the Champions League final, but he couldn't celebrate the World Cup victory with me.

How important are your parents to your life?

Very important. My father was always by my side on my football journey and taught me to fight. I left home at 11 to join the academy, and at 15, I moved abroad to play for Athletic Bilbao. He built my mental strength. My mother always gave me warmth from afar. Both of them made me who I am today, and this honour is a reward for them as well.

What was it like celebrating the World Cup championship?

Crazy. We had to celebrate multiple times while still adjusting to the time difference. I barely slept for a long time, and the whole team enjoyed those moments to the fullest.

Any interesting stories?

After giving a speech, the bus was about to leave, and I was late. I was with my family and friends upstairs, completely unaware the bus was waiting. Everyone called me, and I finally made it just in time.

You and 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí form an excellent centre-back partnership. How do you assess him? What are his limitations?

He's very young but has incredible composure. He rarely makes mistakes like other players his age. Many young defenders push too far forward, lacking judgment about danger on the pitch and creating risks for the team. But Pau Cubarsí is excellent and has plenty of room to grow. He's already on a great trajectory.

And what about Lamine Yamal, also 19 years old?

He's a game-changer who constantly attracts opposing defenders. He's almost unstoppable in one-on-one situations, with outstanding technical talent. In time, he will achieve tremendous success in football. I have no doubt.

Let's talk about your two national team coaches. First, Enrique, under whom you made your Spain debut. What are his best and worst qualities?

He has an excellent life philosophy, having overcome great hardships that shaped his character. His weakness is that he's too stubborn. Once he commits to an idea, it's difficult for him to change his mind.

What about De la Fuente? What's the key to his success?

He's excellent at managing the team and knows how to communicate with every player, which is a huge advantage. He's not easily swayed by the media, and this is fully reflected in how he manages the team. As for his "weakness"—I'm joking—he's so obsessed with training that he's become unusually muscular.

Tell us about your childhood. Where were you born? What's your earliest memory? Did both your parents play sports?

I was born in Agen and lived there until I was 15. My father played rugby and later tried football, but it wasn't for him. My mother played football when she was younger.

At 15, you moved to Spain to join Athletic Bilbao. How did that happen?

I was representing the Aquitaine regional team in France and played a friendly against Biscay. A scout from Athletic Bilbao was there, saw me, and was impressed. After that, they invited me to a trial. Following the match, negotiations began, and everything proceeded from there.

Was it difficult being away from your family in a foreign country from age 15, especially at first?

It was very difficult. I missed home a lot, and I didn't speak Spanish at all. Fortunately, there were four other young teammates from Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz in France. The five of us supported each other through those difficult initial times. I really missed my family.

On weekends, when possible, I would take the bus or train home, but the journey was long, so I couldn't go every week. Many weekends, I was the only one left in the club's residence because my teammates had all returned to the Basque Country. Thankfully, we could video call back then, so I could see my family at night.

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