Source: PA
Newcastle new boy Florian Lejeune thought Rafael Benitez phone call was prank
Florian Lejeune thought he was the victim of a prank when Rafael Benitez called him to offer him the chance to join Newcastle.The 26-year-old central defender completed an £8.7million switch from LaLiga outfit Eibar earlier this week after belatedly realising the call was genuine.Lejeune said: "Getting a call from Rafael Benitez was absolutely amazing, and I could only say yes. It was like a dream."When I got the call, I thought it was a prank so I didn't say anything. After a few hours, I said, 'Yes, that's Rafael Benitez', so I had to say yes."He was very important to my decision. For many years, my career was going up and down and up and down."He's a great coach. Everyone knows him and he has won lots of trophies - that is Rafa Benitez. Newcastle is a very big club with a fantastic history."As soon as Rafa phoned me, we had a good discussion and there was no question about whether to come or not."Lejeune was signed by Manchester City during the summer of 2015, but never kicked a ball in anger for them as he was loaned out to Girona before joining Eibar 12 months ago.As a result, he is yet to sample Premier League football and is relishing the opportunity to do that with the newly promoted Magpies.He said: "It's always been a dream. I have played in Spain and France, and everyone was telling me that the English league was very important and very intense."I really wanted to come and play here, and hopefully I will be able to prove that I am worth it."Lejeune's switch to England came just days before friend and former Newcastle target Alexandre Lacazette followed suit by completing a £44millon switch to Arsenal from Lyon, and the defender is confident the Gunners have invested wisely.He said: "We are very good friends. We have been friends for many years and the fact he has signed with Arsenal is no surprise to me."I have always known he was a great forward. In the past, he was often the best player in the team."They have signed a goalscorer - in the last three or four years, he has been putting in at least 20 goals a season, so he is definitely a goalscorer."