Marco Silva faces the prospect of slowly introducing summer signing Djibril Sidibe into his first-team plans, after Lucas Digne revealed his compatriot has not yet started to learn English, as told to the Liverpool Echo.
Sidibe was one of the final players brought to Goodison Park this summer, with the 2018 World Cup-winning right-back acquired on a loan-to-buy deal from AS Monaco that could set the Blues back a reported €16.5million (£15m).
Silva was unable to introduce the former LOSC Lille defender into his plans against Crystal Palace, but could name the 27-year-old in his 18-man teamsheet for Saturday’s game at home to Watford; after the 18-cap international enjoyed a full week training with the first-team.
A role in the starting XI may not prove to be beneficial yet, however, as Digne has revealed Sidibe only knows a select few words in English, which could cause confusion at the back if messages are not received as clearly as intended.
“He is a quiet guy and calm,” the former FC Barcelona left-back noted. “He loves to enjoy football, and everyday he is with a smile. He is a very good guy.
“I am translating for him, because he doesn’t start English lessons for a few days. But he has a few words, but sometimes I have to translate.”
Digne is convinced Sidibe will eventually prove to be a worthwhile addition, though.
“He is a very good player, a very good guy, and an amazing professional,” he added. “He won the World Cup with the national team, he has played with the national team a lot, and he is very good right-back.
“He looks to get forward and cross the ball, he has a lot of quality, and I think he will prove that in England.
“I have known him since Lille, and we have grown together, and I played with him in the national team too, so it is always a pleasure when you can play with our friends. I am happy he is here.”
Digne broke into the senior Lille squad a year before Sidibe’s arrival at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in 2012, but would only play together for a season before Digne joined Paris Saint-Germain.