Once very close to leaving Monaco for Atlético Madrid, Djibril Sidibé eventually exited the principality, but only on loan as he headed to Everton in the Premier League.
His introduction to English football was a bit of a slow one, as Seamus Coleman was the designated starter in the early stages of the season, but the Frenchman is slowly but surely finding his feet at Goodison Park.
Sitting down with L’Est Éclair in France, the right-back explained patience is what pays off in football at times.
He said: “I knew how to take my chance when it was given to me. It’s going well. The coach renewed his trust in me. After some good performances in the cup, I continued in the league. I grew in confidence. I understand better what is asked of me, the way to play with the team. Everyone seems happy with my performances: I’m enjoying it”.
In fact, the fact Seamus Coleman was the captain and his main competition is one of the reasons he chose Everton in the first place: “It was part of the challenges I’d set myself. When you’re aiming for the top, because Everton is part of the English top 6, there are no depleted squads.
“There are, in there, at least two or three players at your level, or even stronger than you. We work to put ourselves at that level, to then go further and fulfil the hope that has been put in you”.
Suffering a severe knee injury in the past, Sidibé reassured the readers those issues were all behind him and he was ‘feeling good’, explaining that because things weren’t going well at Monaco last season, he struggled to find the drive to push himself to the highest level.
That isn’t the case at Everton, where he is on loan with an option to buy, although there are no guarantees he will stay at Goodison Park beyond the 2019-20 campaign.
He said: “I’ve been loaned with an option to buy, but I’ll have my piece to say at the time of negotiations. My objective this season is to play, and perform at the highest level with a club.
“What comes next depends on many factors. We will then have the time to sit around a table to see what’s best for me and the club”.
