Lucas Digne suggests Rafa Benitez ‘destroyed Everton love affair’ as he confirms exit

Lucas Digne has mentioned his farewells to Everton forward of sealing a switch to Aston Villa.

The Frenchman fell out of favour below Rafa Benitez and was being checked out by each Newcastle United and Chelsea this month, however Villa swooped in and voiced their intention to signal Digne completely as a substitute of on mortgage.

It brings an finish to a tumultuous ultimate few weeks at Goodison Park for Digne, who took to Instagram to emphasize that he doesn’t plan to get right into a public combat with anyone over what has occurred in latest months, however he was clearly unimpressed.

“Thanks for 3 1/2 years in Blue,” he wrote. “From Day One the Evertonians have acquired me with lots of heat emotions, and I’m without end grateful for that.

“I’ve beloved to be part of the Everton household. I’ve at all times labored laborious to offer again to the followers on and off the pitch. I’ve beloved the unity of followers and gamers. Not solely Goodison on a match day but additionally in on a regular basis life.

“Just one 12 months in the past I signed a brand new contract with the ambition of staying on this membership for a very long time, giving all the pieces for my membership, for the event and challenge, that I believed in – and for the passionate followers. My dream was serving to the membership again the place it belongs. Sporting the captain’s armband in some matches at all times made me proud.

“All the things should come to an finish. I simply didn’t anticipate it to finish this fashion. What has occurred and a few issues that was mentioned about me within the final month has made me very unhappy. However I can’t enter a struggle on phrases with anybody. The membership don’t deserve that, the followers don’t deserve that – and to be sincere, I don’t really feel that I deserve that. There are such a lot of good and first rate individuals in and round Everton who need to the perfect for this membership and never just for themselves – and to them I can solely say from my coronary heart: I want you the perfect!

“Thanks, to all you great, proud and passionate true Evertonians. It has been an honour and a real pleasure to play for you, the followers, the individuals – as a result of a membership don’t belong to a participant or a supervisor, however to the followers. I’ll at all times carry you with me in my coronary heart wherever I’m going. Generally it solely takes one individual from exterior to destroy a stupendous love affair.”

Digne is ready to seal a £25m transfer to Villa within the close to future, with Anwar El Ghazi anticipated to maneuver on mortgage in the wrong way.