Now, the 26-year-old has finally kick-started his Newcastle United career, having made the switch from La Liga – where he was tasked with stopping the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – in the summer, after being coveted by Rafa Benítez.
In this week’s issue of UNITED for Saturday’s visit of AFC Bournemouth, Lejeune discusses his career so far, which has taken an unusual but prosperous path; he was not part of an academy system, as is so common in England, as a youngster.
“I have a background which is different to a lot of footballers, as I did not have the chance to go to a training centre,” he told UNITED. “I didn’t go to an official training centre, but that is why I succeeded – I had the mental strength to say I could succeed. I played with many clubs, met many managers and I think this experience is what really made me, and gave me my strength.
“The chance I had was to have a really normal childhood, with my friends and family, and grow up normally – not be closed in a training centre, with only footballers and talking only about football. I could grow up normally, and later on this helped me as I was able to really make the most of my youth.”
In Saturday’s Big Interview, former Eibar defender Lejeune also discusses his move from Girona to Manchester City in 2015 – as well as the tackle, from Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, which forced him off half an hour into his Magpies debut and kept him out of action for a month.
He also reveals his dream of representing his country at senior level – something he spoke with Benítez about after signing.
“Of course it is in the back of my mind, even if I have never played for them yet,” he says of the prospect of representing France.
“My progress is good, and I am here at a big club in Newcastle with a great manager who also asked me what my ambitions were and posed the same question. I told him I’d love to play for France.
“And so if I want to do that, I need to do better things in training and in games – I need to do well for my club. But for me, at present, the most important thing is to start for Newcastle and to put in good performances for the team.”
As well as the full interview with Lejeune, there is also a feature on United hero John Tudor - who was a special guest at the Crystal Palace game last month, while on holiday from the United States - in this weekend's issue.
Head groundsman Mick Curran is the latest staff member to be profiled in United Backstage, while club historian Paul Joannou continues his look at magazines with a Magpies connection.
And in Flashback, there’s also a look at the club’s first ever European fixture.
To read all of this in full – plus much more – pick up a copy of UNITED on Saturday, which will be available around St. James’ Park and in the club store, priced at just £3.
