Lucas Digne’s representative explains the truth behind the Aston Villa deal.
The latest Aston Villa news comes from BirminghamLive’s exclusive interview with Lucas Digne’s agent, Mikkel Beck.
Lucas Digne has been playing some of his greatest football since joining Aston Villa from Everton last year.
This season, the left-back has appeared in all but one of the club’s 11 games in all competitions, contributing six goals. In the absence of Alex Moreno, who is still out with a hamstring injury, Digne has stepped up and emerged as one of Villa’s outstanding players this season.
Following Moreno’s transfer from Real Betis, Digne appeared in all but five of the club’s 20 matches last season, and also played the majority of the match against Liverpool at Anfield – where Villa earned a crucial point in their pursuit of European qualification – before starting the 2-1 win over Brighton on the final day of the season.
Digne led the Villa squad in critical passes per 90 minutes in 2021/22, with 1.9, 0.4 more than John McGinn, who was second. He also has four assists in his first 16 games after joining the club from Everton.
Digne jumped at the chance to get a steady run of matches under his belt after being presented with it. This season, he is among the top ten Premier League players in terms of passes into the penalty area (13), crosses (48), and interceptions (13).
Even more astounding, after seven games, no player in the Premier League has completed more crosses into the penalty area than Digne. After drawing interest from a number of teams during the summer transfer window, the France international has been in fantastic form for Villa.
“It’s correct that there was interest from different clubs this summer – as there is in every transfer window for a player of Lucas’s calibre,” Digne’s agent, Mikkel Beck, told BirminghamLive. “The media was full of rumors and speculation.”
“Lucas never wanted to leave Villa and the exciting project he was working on with Unai Emery.” He is in his peak as a footballer, and few players have the same aims and drive to always give their all.”
“I know he loves being back in Europe, and he has missed these European nights since he chose to leave Barcelona,” Beck continued. Lucas has played many games at the top level for both club and country, and it means a lot to him to help Villa return to Europe, where they have a long history.
“Five assists in ten games this season is definitely something special – especially for Lucas, who has averaged one assist every six games since arriving in England and during his time with Villa.” That is a rather rare number for a defender.
“It speaks volumes about his high caliber and consistency, and it places him statistically as one of the most goal-providing left-backs in the game.” And don’t forget about his defensive stats, which are extremely remarkable.”
Digne has made more defensive third tackles, as well as tackles and interceptions, than any other Villa player this season. He also has the most aerial duels won.
Digne has previously played in France, Italy, and Spain, and has made 23 Champions League games with Lille, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, and Barcelona. His experience will also be useful in Villa’s Europa League campaign this season.
The left-back has shown himself at the highest level of European football, and at 30 years old, he is still in his prime years. Digne has 46 international caps for France and has captained Everton while at Goodison Park.
