Lucas Digne’s return to Paris Saint-Germain was anything but a fallback option. At 33, the French left-back might have seemed out of step with PSG’s recruitment policy. Yet his profile ticked almost every box for Luis Enrique, Luis Campos and Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Lucas Digne, the new trusted man of the Paris hierarchy? Several factors explain what may initially appear to be a rather surprising signing. First, the deal was financially very affordable. PSG spent only around €7 million to bring in an experienced player capable of immediately providing a reliable alternative to Nuno Mendes. Another important factor is that Digne is French, which is far from insignificant when building the squad, as Champions League registration rules require clubs to include a certain number of locally trained players. His return therefore also helps PSG balance their European squad list.
Digne perfectly suited PSG’s requirements
Above all, however, it was his attitude that convinced Paris. According to L’Équipe, Digne was ready to return with a clearly defined role: that of a dependable backup, capable of playing regularly without demanding guaranteed starter status. That is a valuable profile for Luis Enrique, who wants strong competition in every position without upsetting the balance of his dressing room. His age was the only real potential concern, as the 33-year-old does not necessarily fit PSG’s usual strategy of targeting younger players who can develop over several seasons.
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But Luis Enrique knew exactly who he was signing. The two previously worked together at FC Barcelona, and the Spanish coach knows what the Frenchman can bring both in training and in terms of mentality. According to L’Équipe, the PSG coach particularly appreciates Digne’s commitment and competitive nature. Despite arriving as the expected backup, Digne is determined to play and push Nuno Mendes for his place.
A low-cost transfer, a French player, extensive experience and no issue accepting his role: on paper, PSG had very few reasons to pass up the opportunity.
