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Newcastle United new boy Florian Lejeune admits he thought he was being pranked when Rafa Benitez called to offer him an £8.7million move

Florian Lejeune assumed he was on the receiving end of a prank call when the voice down the line claimed to be Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez.

It was no joke, however. Benitez had long since identified the 26-year-old Frenchman as the man he wanted to lead his defence into the new Premier League season and made his play at the start of the summer.

‘Getting a call from Rafael Benitez was absolutely amazing, and I could only say yes,’ said Lejeune at his official unveiling on Tyneside following his £8.7million arrival from La Liga outfit Eibar.