Aston Villa manager Unai Emery ‘opposed’ sanctioning Lucas Digne’s exit last year.
That’s according to RMC Sport, and they cover comments made by the left-back during an interview with Téléfoot on Sunday.
Emery arrived at Aston Villa in November 2022 and two months later signed Àlex Moreno from Real Betis.
The manager preferred Moreno ahead of the former Everton man in the second half of the 2022/23 season. RMC say this convinced the France international to leave the Villans and OGC Nice were keen on signing him in the summer of 2023.
Digne has now revealed he came close to joining the Ligue 1 side and the transfer didn’t go through because of Emery. The 31-year-old then put forward his conditions to continue at Villa Park.
“I was close to Nice but in the end the coach [Emery] didn’t agree at all with this idea of letting me go. I told him that I accepted his choice, provided I had playing time,” he said.
“Everything went well, we got into the Champions League and now I can play in it!”
The Frenchman made 46 appearances in all competitions last season, managing two goals and six assists in the process, and has played 20 matches so far this season.
Emery’s decision to block the exit has benefited both Aston Villa and Digne, who also returned to his national squad in September.
The fullback’s contract at the Premier League side lasts until 2026.