France international Lucas Digne hailed the start of a ‘big adventure’ at his unveiling as Barcelona’s latest signing yesterday. The 22-year-old defender joined the club on Wednesday from Paris Saint-Germain on a $18.26mn (plus bonuses) five-year deal after a successful loan spell at Serie A’s Roma.
“This is the greatest club in the world, it’s the start of a big adventure for me,” the stylish Lille-trained player told a press conference. Digne was part of Didier Deschamps’ 23-strong France squad for Euro 2016.
But he didn’t play a single minute, with the experienced Patrice Evra preferred in the Les Bleus’ starting XI. Digne, sporting bandages on his face after nose surgery, added: “I think this is the perfect club to evolve and to stay for a long time.”
At the prospect of playing alongside the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi he said: “It’s an extra motivation and it’ll help me make enormous progress”.
Digne’s arrival comes on the same week as another French defender, Samuel Umtiti, joined The Catalans from Lyon in a deal worth 25mn euros ($27.7mn).

Fenerbahce sign defender Skrtel from Liverpool
Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel has completed his move to Fenerbahce from Liverpool, the Turkish club announced on Twitter. Skrtel, who finished his medical with Fenerbahce on Wednesday, joined Liverpool from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and has made over 300 appearances at the Premier League club.
No details over the length of contract were announced, but according to British media reports, the fee for the 31-year-old is about 5.5mn pounds ($7.31mn).
Despite an injury-hit season due to hamstring and tendon problems sustained in December, Skrtel made 27 appearances for Liverpool last season and helped them reach the Europa League final and an eighth-place finish in the standings last season.
Skrtel captained Slovakia at Euro 2016 in France where they were eliminated by Germany in the last 16. Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has said he will open discussions with Joe Allen regarding his future at the club following the midfielder’s impressive Euro 2016 campaign with Wales, where they reached the semi-finals.
“We will find a solution, but it’s not done. Obviously Joe Allen is a good player. We never doubted this,” Klopp said after his team’s 5-0 pre-season win against lower division side Fleetwood Town on Wednesday.
“He played a good European Championship, like the whole Welsh team. We have to make decisions, we have to find solutions. We have to talk to the player, ask the player and think about our situation. That’s how it works.” The Merseyside club open their 2016-17 season with a trip to last season’s runners-up Arsenal on Aug. 14.

Juventus set to sign defender Benatia from Munich
Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia has arrived in Turin for a medical as he looks to complete a switch from Bayern Munich to Juventus, the Serie A champions said.
The 29-year-old, who played for Udinese and Roma in the Serie A before signing for Bayern in 2014, made 23 appearances for the German club last season.

Cahill set to sign for Melbourne City
Striker Tim Cahill has agreed a deal in principle with Melbourne City FC and will end his stay at Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown, Australian media reports said. David Gallop, the chief executive of the Football Federation of Australia (FFA), said negotiations were underway with the former Everton forward, who is likely to feature as a guest player for Melbourne. Newly appointed head of the Australian League, Greg O’Rourke said that the 36-year-old’s return to his native country would help grow the sport in the country.
Cahill, who signed for Hangzhou in February, had been offered a contract extension until 2018 by the Chinese club but had turned down the offer, according to reports.