Lucas Digne (31) has enjoyed an impressive 2024, during which he has established himself as first choice at Aston Villa, whilst also re-integrating the France set-up and playing a starring role in the last international break of the year.
This season, Digne has made 20 appearances in all competitions, including four in the UEFA Champions League.
_“I feel as though I’m playing the best football of my career,”_ the former Everton and Barcelona full-back told **Foot Mercato.** _“I am a happy footballer, a happy man, and a happy father. I’m loving what I’m doing and I just want to make the most of every moment.”_
With Aston Villa, the Frenchman, who has previously competed in Europe with the likes of Lille OSC, Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma, and Barcelona, is competing in the Champions League, a challenge that he is relishing. _“It is a pleasure to be back in this competition. Villa are a big club with an impressive history. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to offer these European nights to our fans and share them together, and write a new chapter in the history of this club,”_ said Digne back in November.
However, as he has now told **[Téléfoot](https://x.com/telefoot_TF1/status/1868245310134480928),** things could have been very different. The France international was heavily linked with a move to OGC Nice back in the summer of 2023. He has now revealed that he almost made his return to Ligue 1. _“It was two years ago. I was close to joining OGC Nice but the manager_ (Unai Emery) _did not agree – at all – to letting me go. I said that I accepted his choice, if I was going to get game time and everything went well,”_ he said
[GFFN](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/#google_vignette) | Luke Entwistle