Aurier: 'My friend Lucas Moura loves big moments in games'

Serge Aurier has welcomed close pal Lucas Moura to the club with open arms, insisting our new signing has ‘big qualities’ to benefit the team.

Attacking midfielder Lucas arrives at the club following a highly successful spell with Paris Saint-Germain, where he was a team-mate of Serge since the right-back joined the French giants in 2014 and won a clutch of trophies, including multiple Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue titles, during that time.

“I am happy for him and for our team because I’ve played with Lucas before, he is a real friend, a good guy, he likes football and he likes the big moments on the pitch,” confirmed Serge, who of course made the move from Parc des Princes to Spurs last summer.

“In Paris, for the last three or four months he hasn’t played that much, so for him and his family it’s a good possibility to come here for a new adventure.

“At PSG he was an important player in a big team. It’s good that he’s come here because his age is similar (to everyone else in the squad). He’s a young player at 25 but he has big experience. For the team it’s good because he has the right mentality for Tottenham, he has big qualities and with me he has a good, good, good relationship for now and in future.

“I told him to come here because, for me, coming to England, to London, to Tottenham is good for your progression. You come here, play good football and see the city, which he also likes.

“In Parc du Princes (the home of Paris Saint-Germain) I like the ambience but I told him that here in England it’s not the same because the people love football and it’s a crazy moment when you score, when you tackle, when you push, you run because people give you their maximum support.”

It’s clear that Serge gets on with Lucas away from the action, but how well does the Ivorian expect our new man to link up with his new team-mates on the field?

“In Paris, I won many trophies with Lucas and it was good because I played (on the) right and he played on the right in front of me,” explained the full-back.

“He’s a quick player, good at dribbling with good energy. He’s a new option for the team because we have players that are fast – Sonny, Dele, Harry – and Lucas is similar. He’s very quick and he scores good goals.

“He has big experience and he comes to London because, for him, it’s a new challenge. Even though it’s a change, he stays natural. He knows football – today is not his debut in football, he knows the game and now it’s just important to progress step-by-step. He is in good condition, he didn’t play in the Champions League in Paris this season so with everything there he’s perfect for the team and for the big moments.”

What about Lucas as a character?

“He’s quiet but he likes to joke and laugh,” said Serge. “He laughs with me every time I see him. He’s very, very funny. He is a different character to me but him and me, we have a good understanding.

“Like I said, I played with Lucas on the same side of the pitch at PSG. He tries for me, I try for him and if we score a goal, we celebrate together so it’s good. For our lives and, importantly, for the team, it’s good that he’s here. Now I want see Lucas play games and score goals.”