Lille star praises Cole loan deal

Lille defensive midfielder Mathieu Debuchy has praised Joe Cole’s decision to leave Merseyside and head to the Ligue 1 champions.

Debuchy said that the midfielder’s decision to leave the Premier League proved that the French club are an attractive team for big names.

Col, 29, opted to leave Liverpool for Lille on a one-year loan deal on deadline day of the summer transfer window and Debuchy is confident the Englishman will do a good job at his new side.

“I think he is a great signing for Lille,” Debuchy, 26, told the club’s website.

“He has already shown what he’s capable of on the training ground. We are very pleased to have signed him. He will impose himself step by step.”

“Like everyone else, I was quite surprised when I heard he had signed for us.”

“This shows that we are an interesting team for big names.”

“It’s rare to see a player of his stature at Lille. This reminds me a bit of when we signed Patrick Kluivert.”

Cole could make his debut in the Ligue 1 match at Saint-Etienne on September 10.

“I had offers in England,” Cole said.

“(But) I know Lille play well, they are a club with a great pedigree and it’s really exciting to have a chance to play in the Champions League again. I’ve always wanted to play abroad.”

“I’m glad the move has been completed and I’m looking forward to a different challenge.

“The support I received from everyone at Liverpool was great and it was a huge honour to have a chance to play at Anfield but things just didn’t work out as I hoped unfortunately.”

Cole made just nine league starts last season and he admitted it was difficult to get into his stride after arriving at Anfield to a fanfare last summer.