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“If you can give me a big left leg then I take free-kicks like that,” he said.

The Everton defender was joking as he spoke about Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian left-back who was famous for his thunderbolt free-kicks.

Digne doesn’t need to replicate the former Real Madrid star’s dead balls – he has shown this season he has his own style from set-pieces.

But he believes Carlos set the template back in the 1990s for the attack-minded full-backs of today.

“I love Roberto Carlos because for me he was the first full-back to attack a lot,” said Digne.

“For me he set a big example for the full back that you can attack and defend. It changed then.”

Digne is certainly a left-back who likes to attack. The France international has scored four goals and has five assists this season.

In the Premier League, he has created the most chances for a defender and delivered the most crosses for a player in his position in his debut season at Goodison Park.

Maybe that attacking prowess comes from the fact he started out as a striker before turning into a winger and then, at 14, switching to left-back when at his first club Lille.

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Digne said: “Some people would say, ‘I want to stay as a striker and score the goals but it’s OK – I can score as a left back!

“But I love to defend. My job is defence first, after you can attack. It’s perfect.”

It was at Lille where Digne shared a dressing room with Eden Hazard and tested himself against the Belgian in training.

He then moved to PSG, had a loan spell at Roma before he found himself at Barcelona and in the company of Lionel Messi.

“When you train against the best player in the world you learn a lot because you are playing against the best,” said the Frenchman.

“You need to move fast, do everything fast and better, you can’t miss something because if you do it’s a goal even if it’s only training.

“It’s really good if you’re a left back or a defender to play against this type of player.

“He is playing on another planet. He sees everything before everyone else, he does everything fast, every time he makes a good decision, he’s the best.

“He’s a good guy, too. He spoke to me when I arrived at Barcelona, he spoke with a lot of players.”

Digne had help when he arrived at Everton in the summer in an £18m deal from the Spanish giants.

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And it came from the man who he would eventually take the place of in Marco Silva’s side - Leighton Baines.

It didn’t matter to Baines that his place was under threat after 12 years at the club from the new arrival.

“We have a really good relationship,” said the ex-Barca defender.

“He gave me a lot of advice before games, sometimes when I didn’t know the players or the team, he helped me a lot. He gave me the advice for the player.

“He would say, ‘Be careful of him he likes to drive the ball, he likes to go inside’. He’s a legend.

“It’s a privilege for me to have a player like Leighton help me. He can help me a lot like Jordi Alba helped me at Barcelona.

“The competition has made me a better player. He’s a very good player and when you have a good player with you then you need to push up a level.”

Digne’s debut season has been a success but it is yet to be seen how Everton’s campaign will end as they visit Crystal Palace today looking to stay in the race for seventh and possibly secure a

Europa League spot.

“For me it’s important to qualify,” he said. “It’s a good signal to the fans to show we are building something.

“Every big club plays in Europe and if you can do it, it is better.”

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The mood has certainly improved in the last month with four wins from five games including victories over Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Digne got his fourth of the season in the 4-0 victory over United. His first goal at Goodison Park, a 90th-minute free-kick to equalise against Watford in December, remains his favourite though.

“It was an important goal and my first at Goodison,” he said. “The feeling was amazing.”

But his impressive effort against United brought his first chant from the Everton fans.

“I was surprised,” said Digne.

But he shouldn’t be given how impressive he has been for the Toffees this season. Although, the France defender already had the “best moment” of his life just three weeks ago when his wife, Tiziri, gave birth to their baby boy.

“It’s a life changer - in a good way,” said Digne. The France defender is relaxed as he chats about his life away from football.

His love for movies has helped his English and he is comfortable as he speaks with only JonJoe Kenny’s Scouse accent still proving to be a challenge.

“I ask him to speak slowly,” Digne said, as he laughed.

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Next year he hopes to be able to really enjoy his love of films by going to the cinema when he is confident enough to watch without subtitles.

“It’s a good way to switch off,” he said. “It is a good way to spend time with family, too.

“Denzel Washington is my favourite actor.”

His favourite film?

“Man on Fire,” he adds.

There’s an argument that Digne has been just that for Everton this season.