Lucas Digne may have just cemented his claim to be our Player of the Year, after telling France Football that he rejected Liverpool twice before moving to Goodison Park.
His performances on the pitch have been some of the most consistent and high-level displays of any Toffees ace this term, with the France international also one of the most effective defenders in the league when on the attack.
That is no small accomplishment, either, as Digne also revealed that he was “completely” knocked-out 75 minutes into his first full game for us and “had cramps everywhere”.
“Hell. It was super hard, with a super high pace,” he added. “I did not have a very big preparation, I felt it.”
The 25-year-old, though, has rarely missed a minute since playing a part in our Carabao Cup win over Rotherham, with the left-back only absent from the field five times – one of which was through suspension.
That’s kind of lucky, too, as Digne recalled one challenge by Ashley Young, when we lost at Old Trafford, could easily have disrupted his maiden campaign in England.
“During the game, Ashley Young tackles me from behind,” he said. “If I do not remove my leg, he breaks my ankle. I want to deflect the ball, it comes from behind, it carries everything. But the referee never whistles foul. Just a touch for us.”
If things were different, that challenge could have been on a Liverpool player, as Digne revealed the Anfield natives have tried to sign him in the past. He, however, did not hold desires of wearing red, even though he has “I’ll never walk alone” written across his chest.
“Liverpool fans have seen my tattoo,” he told France Football. “When I explained how and why, our supporters understood very well. There was zero worry.
“In fact, my parents had given me a medallion when I was four, for my very first day of school. On [the] top, there was engraved ‘I’ll never walk alone’.
“There is no symbolism in relation to football. It’s a tribute to my parents. Nothing else. Liverpool fans tried to say that I was a fan of their club, except they did not know one thing, I had already refused to join their club twice.”