Season › 2018-19 › News
Digne: Everton is perfect for me
Lucas Digne was officially unveiled as an Everton player today in a press conference in front of the media and cameras at Finch Farm following his £18m move from Barcelona.
The 25-year-old's signing was completed earlier this week and he got the chance to talk about his switch from the Nou Camp and his excitement at playing in what he describes as the best league in the world.
Digne also joked about his suitability to playing as an emergency centre-half in the Premier League and explained the meaning behind the tattoo across his chest that has been the source of mis-place mirth in some quarters over the past couple of days.
“Everton showed a lot of interest in me [over the past two months],” Digne when asked why he chose to sign for the Blues, “and when I spoke with Marcel (Brands) and the coach (Marco Silva), I said, 'yeah, it's a very good project to be part of this; for me it's perfect'.
“I had a really good feeling when we spoke. I can't explain it — sometimes you know when you speak to someone whether they are a good person or not and, for me, he is a good person.
“He told me I'm young and I need to play more. I want to play more and it's perfect. The Premier League is the best league in the world and I want to play here. It's an exciting challenge.”
Digne was asked whether he had been advised to come to Goodison Park by other players he knew and he confirmed that Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin both told him he should sign for the Blues.
“I played with them at Lille or in the national team and they both said to me, ‘come, come, and don't worry — you will be so happy here, you will see'. So I said, ‘okay, I come.'”
Digne spoke of his friendly conversations with Leighton Baines, the man against whom he will compete for the left-back spot this season. He admitted that he can play at centre half but that left full-back is his natural place.
“My position is left back,” he explained, “but if the team needs me to, I can play at centre back but I'm not so tall for [the game in] England! But competition [for places] is the best thing.
The former PSG defender was also asked about whether he thought his former Barcelona team-mate, Yerry Mina, would do well in England. The Colombian is the subject of reported offers from Lyon, Manchester United and Everton but is said to favour a move to Old Trafford.
“I hope to see him here,” smiled Digne, “but really I don't know. He'll make the best decision for his career. I told him to come, but we'll see. He's a good player and a good guy.”
On the subject of the tattoo that has been the subject of discussion on social media, Digne poured cold water on the jibes that Everton's newest signing may once have been a Liverpool fan because it reads in big letters across his chest, “I Never Walk Alone”.
He admitted that he twice turned down the chance to join the Reds and affirmed that he is very much part of the correct side of the city now.
“My tattoo has a story and it's not about football. When I was about three or four years old when I go for my first day at school, my parents gave me a necklace with these words.
“Maybe the Liverpool fans are angry because I said two times 'no' to [them]. I'm Blue.”
Reader Comments (26)
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2 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:18:44
[BRZ]
3 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:22:52
Very well played, Lucas.
4 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:27:34
5 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:29:58
Seriously though, I have a feeling that this lad is going to prove to be a very good acquisition.
6 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:34:38
What about .blah blah blah!
Great interview and maybe just a great start to changes. Or...just too little and 5 decades too late.
Seems what we need on left to me...
But who knows really?
7 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:36:29
I hope that they keep him to left back , unless an in game injury forces the issue and he has to play centre.
8 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:37:25
Haven't received my season ticket yet. Are they trying to tell me something?
9 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:53:20
They started posting season tickets out last Monday and they envisage all will be done by the 10 th.
10 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:12:07
11 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:13:55
Cheers, mate.
12 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:31:55
13 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:34:24
14 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:48:56
Pathetic nonsense over a tattoo. It's like they own the damn words. Imagine a Liverpool fan watching Celtic in Europe, they'd go ballistic!
15 Posted 03/08/2018 at 20:54:11
16 Posted 03/08/2018 at 20:59:09
19 Posted 03/08/2018 at 23:11:34
20 Posted 04/08/2018 at 04:06:36
Welcome.
Love the last sentence.
21 Posted 04/08/2018 at 05:04:52
22 Posted 04/08/2018 at 06:36:32
Wasn't Baines a boyhood red and now fully converted blue!?
If he plays as smooth as he talks then we have signed a player.
"I'm a blue." love it.
Looking forward to seeing Digne play. Something about him feels right.
23 Posted 04/08/2018 at 07:27:27
Seriously though, what really did happen to Sniederlin? because he looked a very good player when he first joined us, and it was really baffling, the way he just seemed to down tools the minute Rooney joined us.
24 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:25:31
I also expect him to be real class, you don't play for the teams he has without having a bit !
25 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:41:52
Maybe Lucas should have said, "Yes, I have always been a great Celtic fan!"
26 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:48:28
In future I shall sign off all my posts as follows:_
INWAIAB
("I never walk alone, I'm a Blue")
27 Posted 04/08/2018 at 09:00:18
Really pleased with this signing
28 Posted 04/08/2018 at 09:24:14
I really hope he can do it on the pitch. After our shambolic recent transfer record, fingers are crossed for the last 4 signings - Tosun, Walcott, Richarlison and Digne.
Sobering to think they cost over 100m and we still need to buy.
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1 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:05:02