Aston Villa Defender Lucas Digne Details Daily London Commute for Family Reasons
Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne has opened up about his unique daily routine, commuting from London to the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground. The French international, now in his fifth season with Villa, explained that this arrangement is driven by a crucial family decision regarding his children's education.
Family-First Decision for French Schooling
Digne, who joined Aston Villa from Everton in January 2022 for approximately £25 million, emphasized that his choice stems from the lack of suitable French schools in the Birmingham area. "It's a family decision. When I signed for Villa, my son started school, but in Birmingham, there aren't any French schools," Digne stated in an interview with SoFoot.
The defender highlighted the importance of his children being bilingual, able to read and write in both French and English. "For us, it was really important that our children could read and write in both French and English. In London, they have the opportunity to do both," he added. Digne also noted that his children are exposed to multiple cultures, including Algerian heritage from his wife's family, fostering an open-minded outlook from a young age.
Daily Commute and Training Routine
Despite the distance, Digne described the commute as manageable. "I leave home between 7 and 7:30am, and I arrive at the training centre about an hour later," he explained. His routine includes a warm-up, cold bath, and sessions with physiotherapists before group activities. Digne mentioned that he is not alone in this journey, with three or four other players making similar trips daily.
"It's far from insurmountable," Digne remarked, noting that he uses the travel time for recovery, such as wearing recovery boots in the vehicle. However, he acknowledged the challenges of balancing family life, comparing himself to a taxi driver due to his children's school and extracurricular activities.
Career and Language Skills
With 169 appearances for Aston Villa, Digne has played more games for the club than any other in his career, which includes stints at Lille, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and AS Roma. He also shared his proficiency in multiple languages, including Italian and Spanish, which he used to help new teammate Alysson settle in. "It's an extra skill for work, but also for everyday life," Digne said, emphasizing the practical benefits of multilingualism.
This insight into Digne's life sheds light on the personal sacrifices professional athletes make for their families, while maintaining peak performance on the pitch.
