Everton midfielder Andre Gomes has admitted he was left surprised by the level of football on offer in Ligue 1.
The Portuguese midfielder joined Lille on loan in the summer transfer window after it was made clear he was not a part of Everton’s plans this season.
It brought an end to a disappointing four-year spell with Everton, who he initially joined on loan from Barcelona in 2018 and joined on a permanent basis the following year.
He made 100 appearances for the Blues in all competitions over that period but struggled to establish himself, often looking like he was struggling to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.
He’s been a regular for Lille this season, with French football, and it’s considerably different style to the Premier League, seeming far more suited to his style of play.
“It’s a mix between the Premier League and La Liga,” he told L’Equipe.
“It’s a pretty good surprise, to be honest, but don’t take it in a bad way. I played against French teams in the past, in the pre-season in the Champions League, but I didn’t have the experience that I have now.
“Being there is great, I’m very happy. It’s a very, very good surprise, the level is very high, the intensity too, there are plenty of good players, good teams.
“Many play at the top of the table. That’s competition. A mix of quality and intensity, hence the Premier League and La Liga mix.”
