Lucas Digne: “I feel like I’m playing the best football of my career”

2024 is a year that counts and will certainly count in the life of Lucas Digne. Last month, the native of Meaux and his wife Tiziri had the joy of becoming parents for the third time. A little Isaïa has come to complete the beautiful siblings. On the pitch side, everything is also going well for the footballer born in 93. Indeed, he has had a series of meetings and, above all, convincing performances this season in the Aston Villa jersey. Used 12 times in all competitions (952 minutes, 2 goals), he is a permanent fixture in the team headed by Unai Emery. The former FC Barcelona player is clearly on cloud nine as he told us.

“I only have one goal: I just want to enjoy my football and continue to succeed for the team and for myself. We are working hard as a team to achieve this, and just like last season, we are at the top of the Premier League. Which is a great achievement and very difficult with a lot of very big English clubs. And now we are also at the top of the Champions League. I used to play in the Champions League with LOSC, PSG, Roma and Barça, and it’s a great pleasure to be back in this tournament. Villa is a great club with an impressive history, and it’s an incredible feeling to be able to offer these European nights to our fans and share them together – and write new chapters in the club’s history book.

The Frenchman is in great shape

Accustomed to putting the collective forward, the left-back made a small exception by mentioning his individual case. “I feel like I’m playing the best football of my career. I am a happy footballer, a happy man and a happy father. I love what I do and I just want to enjoy every day and every moment.” It is therefore not yet a question of thinking about his future, his contract with the Villans will officially end on June 30, 2026. Until then, a lot of things can still happen for the Frenchman, with a remarkable career. . When he looks back, Lucas Digne has a feeling of pride, even if he believes he still has a few good years ahead of him.

“I have incredible memories of each club. Lille is my home club, where I had the chance to develop and start my career. Paris is where I started winning trophies and playing with the national team. Rome was my first experience outside of France and it was just an incredible feeling with the fans and a fantastic experience. Barcelona… well, since I was a child it was my dream to play for this club, and I made it come true. I won trophies there, I played with the best player in the world for two wonderful years. I enjoyed every day, but I also wanted to play every game and have more responsibility in my team, so I told Barça that I wanted to move forward, even if it was difficult. »

A player and a man marked by his various experiences

He continues: “Everton gave me the opportunity to get this responsibility in the team and experience the best championship in the world with incredible fans. It’s a historic club and I share very good times with them. Aston Villa is like family to me. Whether it’s when we talk about the connection with the fans, the relationships in the locker room and the team spirit, the way we work to achieve our ambitions, and we have grown a lot as a team since then. arrival of Emery. Every club and country helps me a lot to become the player and person I am today. It wouldn’t have been the same if I had only played in one or two major championships.”

Lucas Digne came out growing on all levels with each of his experiences. “If we only talk about the player, I have learned different things along the way. In Italy it was more tactical, for example, and in Barcelona, ​​extremely technical. In England, for example, there is the intensity that makes every match so special. Now I feel more complete as a player, and I’m really proud of my progress. Dignified, the Frenchy learned from all his teammates. Although one of them particularly impressed him. “Messi for his abilities, of course, and it was amazing to appreciate him every day in training. No one has been close to Messi’s level. But I will also cite Iniesta for his calm and professionalism. »

A beautiful page to write with the Blues

Regarding the opponent who gave him the most trouble, the defender has a name in mind. “Messi again. When I played with AS Roma against Barcelona in the Champions League, he was unstoppable. But the Lucas Digne of 2024 will have his say regardless of the opponent, whether at club or national level. With the Blues in fact, he experienced the roller coaster. And if he would have liked to be there during the World Cup in Russia in 2018, Lucas Digne always responded when the staff called on him. So he said yes when Didier Deschamps summoned him to the rally last September. Between the injury to Lucas Hernandez and the enigma Ferland Mendy, Digne (49 caps), who was the most capped player behind Ousmane Dembélé (53 caps) and the oldest of the Blues during the last gathering, was able to score points behind Theo Hernandez.

The French staff, like the players, are full of praise for the Aston Villa player, who was able to naturally find his place in the locker room and on the pitch, since he delivered a decisive cross on the goal of Randal Kolo Muani against Belgium on October 14 (2-1 victory. Very motivated and ambitious, while keeping his feet on the ground, he hopes to continue this dynamic and do great things with the Blues. “My goal in the national team is to win every match we play and every tournament we participate in. I have always been proud to represent my country, and each of my 49 caps is special. I feel at home with the Blues.” Unsurprisingly, he should be called up again on Thursday by DD for the November gathering where the Tricolores will face Israel (November 14) and Italy (November 17) as part of the Nations League. Before that, he will have a game to play on Wednesday against Club Bruges in the Champions League. A competition where Digne and Villa are undefeated this 2024-25 season.