Season › 2018-19 › News Digne: Everton is perfect for me Lyndon Lloyd Friday, 3 August, 2018 26comments | Jump to most recent Everton FC 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'. Article continues below video content “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) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Mike Jones 1 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:05:02 Good lad Jimmy Hogan 2 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:18:44 Well, that's cleared that up about the tattoo. Great attitude. Jay Wood[BRZ] 3 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:22:52 If he doesn't make it as a footballer for us, give him a job in our media and PR department!Very well played, Lucas. Bobby Mallon 4 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:27:34 I love this interview Derek Knox 5 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:29:58 The only bit that worries me is the recommendation from Schneiderlin. " It's great here, I have played the worst football of my life, and yet I still get picked every game, I pass sideways and backwards and rarely forward, I don't even need to run or break sweat, and I get £110,000 a week, get your derriere over here.Seriously though, I have a feeling that this lad is going to prove to be a very good acquisition. Dermot Byrne 6 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:34:38 No! It is all wrong for some dubious reason 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? Tony Everan 7 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:36:29 Seems like a good lad and hopefully a class signing. Great to see him pouring a bucket of cold water on the RS on his first press outing for us ! Well done .I hope that they keep him to left back , unless an in game injury forces the issue and he has to play centre. Brent Stephens 8 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:37:25 Nice one. Rejected the reds! Roll on the derby!Haven't received my season ticket yet. Are they trying to tell me something? Bill Watson 9 Posted 03/08/2018 at 17:53:20 Brent #8They started posting season tickets out last Monday and they envisage all will be done by the 10 th. Derek Turner 10 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:12:07 I think I like him already. Brent Stephens 11 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:13:55 Bill 10th of which month?Cheers, mate. Mike Gaynes 12 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:31:55 Lucas, it seems like you're perfect for Everton too! Bill Gienapp 13 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:34:24 While it's customary to blow smoke up the new fanbase's ass, I'm loving everything about this kid so far. A far cry from those who predicted he'd look even more depressed than Lennon in his reveal photos. John Hammond 14 Posted 03/08/2018 at 18:48:56 Liking the lad already.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! Darren Murphy 15 Posted 03/08/2018 at 20:54:11 Good to see the lad, he's pretty quick to be fair, rounded and Delboys twin hahaa. Much needed signing for us. Can't wait to see him tomorrow hopefully. Darren Murphy 16 Posted 03/08/2018 at 20:59:09 @ John H 14, I know man it's a fucking joke in my opinion. I've got plenty of tattoos myself, every single one of them have a heart felt meaning etc. I had my family and likes up my arm before these young kids had sleeves lol. I design as a hobby black and white art for people aka mates so people misguided about Dignes tattoo is just tabloid and RS bollocks. Steve Ferns 19 Posted 03/08/2018 at 23:11:34 Top lad. He's off to a flier. Daniel Lim 20 Posted 04/08/2018 at 04:06:36 So fast he already knew that he didn't choose but he was chosen? Welcome. Love the last sentence. Steve Brown 21 Posted 04/08/2018 at 05:04:52 A masterclass from Digne, he will make a great politician. Jason Broome 22 Posted 04/08/2018 at 06:36:32 Twitter, twatter, shitter shouldn't matter. Trolls are pathetic little people.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. Tony Abrahams 23 Posted 04/08/2018 at 07:27:27 I heard that Snides, only recommended us to Lucas, after he heard about that tattoo. But who knows, Maybe having one of his compatriots at Everton, might even make Morgan, try and run now?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. Martin Berry 24 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:25:31 It looks as though he is going to be a fans favorite.I also expect him to be real class, you don't play for the teams he has without having a bit ! Gerry Quinn 25 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:41:52 I'm surprised that there hasn't been a frickin Redshite petition up and running about this tattoo!!!!Maybe Lucas should have said, "Yes, I have always been a great Celtic fan!" Hugh Jenkins 26 Posted 04/08/2018 at 08:48:28 Excellent first interview and an exciting addition.In future I shall sign off all my posts as follows:_INWAIAB("I never walk alone, I'm a Blue") Kase Chow 27 Posted 04/08/2018 at 09:00:18 Great interviewReally pleased with this signing Amit Vithlani 28 Posted 04/08/2018 at 09:24:14 Aye, he struck all the right notes.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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