Romain Perraud: I like English culture and passion

The 23-year-old, who has visited England to watch Premier League matches before the spectator, got his first taste of what happened on the field, named for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s starting team at the season opener.

Inside the old-school English venue, left-wing Perraud, who had spent his entire playing career in France before moving to Saints, quickly took part in a battle with wise campaigners Seamus Coleman and Andros Townsend.

It wasn’t supposed to be a dream show for Perraud, as he and the Saints lost 3-1.

But the trip to Merseyside was reminiscent of a former man from Nice and Brest.

Perraud told the Daily Echo: “For me, it was my first game here. I feel good. I think this was a very emotional moment for me, everyone, as the fans returned to the stadium.

“It was very amazing. The game we lost, but I thought the first game was good.

“I’ve been here for six or seven weeks. I feel good.

“Here’s the best championship in the world. I have to improve, I have to make progress, but I feel good because the club is good. Everyone helped me integrate collectively.”

Born in Toulouse to adapt to English life, Perraud added: “When I arrived I was with my father, so I quarantined with my father.

“Later my girlfriend came. But she works in France, so sometimes she comes, sometimes she comes back to France.

“But no worries. For one or two weeks, for example, I’m alone, then when my girlfriend comes, including my dad and mom. That’s good.

“I was in England three years ago and four years ago. Every time at Christmas.

“I like culture. I like country. I like football here.

“When I came, I was in London and watching a lot of games, like I remember Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal, Tottenham vs. Chelsea. So it was very good. I like the passion here.”

Through the nice youth lines, when former Saints ’boss Claude Puel was in charge of the first team, Perraud was introduced to the man who replaced his senior debut at the helm of Puel, well-known coach Lucien Favre.

He played in the dead rubber of the Europa League against Krasnodar in December 2016.

Perraud played two more times in that tournament the following season, as did a few familiar faces for English football fans Mario Balotelli and Allan Saint-Maximin.

The loan was transferred to Paris FC on the second level before he left Nice altogether in 2019 after talking to new boss Patrick Vieira.

After two strong Brest seasons, the first of which he played alongside Saints midfielder Ibrahima Dialo, Perraud made a big substitution across the Channel.

“I was at the Academy of Nice, so I know Allan Saint-Maximin and Mario Balotelli,” Perraud said.

– It was good for me because I was young and Nice was a great team with great players.

“But when you can’t compare the French League and the Premier League, to me. Since they’re not the same players, it’s not the same intensity.

“Ligue 1 was a good championship, but here I think the difference is that every team is competitive. It’s not on the same level.”

The signing at the beginning of the transfer window gave Perraud a full foreshadowing with his new teammates. This includes a week in Wales where the Frenchman showcased his other sporting skills, particularly table tennis.

“Here I know people love golf or cricket,” Perraud said.

– But I’ve never played golf.

“I like rugby because my dad was a coach in the rugby league in the first division of France. I like tennis, I like the NBA.

“(Wales) I think the manager wasn’t there when I played (table tennis).

– I played against Oriolia (Romeu), Che Adams, Mikey (Obafemi) and Moi Elyounouss.

– This was a good tournament and a good moment for us.