Emi Buendia reveals frustrating part of £33m Norwich City exit | OneFootball

It was a club record sale for the Canaries in 2021.

Emi Buendia has opened on his Norwich City exit in 2021 and revealed the part of it that he wasn't happy with.

Aston Villa paid £33 million for the Argentine following his best season of his career so far. The attacking midfielder directly contributed to 31 goals in 39 Championship appearances, but hasn't been able to fully recapture that form since moving to Villa Park.

Injuries and strong competition for positions in the starting XI have hampered him and led to a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen in January. He has been linked with a move away from the Midlands yet again this summer, with Leeds United mooted as a potential landing spot.

Emi Buendia's Norwich City exit claim

Even with hindsight, leaving Carrow Road was still the right thing for Buendia to do, according to the now 28-year-old. He brought in a boatload of money for Norwich, but he wasn't happy with one aspect of his departure.

Stuart Webber, the Canaries' former sporting director, claimed that Buendia refused to play for Norwich. In an appearance on the TalkNorwichCity podcast, the Villa man strongly refuted this claim.

"The last month of that season, obviously, I was doing well and I was thinking, and also the club were thinking about any possible sale of myself. We were in conversation also with my agents and with the clubs, also with Daniel Farke.

"We were talking about and even with him, he understands the possibility to leave because I remember what he said to me is normal in football. You want to improve. And also, in my case, I would say I'm a guy who likes a challenge, and I like to have new objectives in my life and in my career.

"I was thinking it was probably the best moment for me to leave. Also, I wasn't leaving for less money. I was leaving for a big amount of money.

"I was also to help for the club. At that time, it was the best option for me. I think everyone was happy. But in my case, what I didn't like at that time was him (Stuart Webber) saying I refused to play for the club.

"If I refuse, if in one moment I have to think, 'I don't want to play because I want to leave', it will be the season before because I wanted to stay in the Premier League. I didn't want to play the Championship again. So at that time, I could say no.

"If that season I had to stay for sure in Norwich because no one wants to sign me, I was playing in Norwich. But it wasn't the case. The club had a big offer from Aston Villa and I was really convinced of the project they told me. So I think it was a good deal for everyone."

Emi Buendia sale was the right move for Norwich

It's a tough situation for a player to be in. Villa were very much on the up in the Premier League, with the Canaries only just coming up to the top flight after his magnificent season. They were then relegated back to the Championship, where they have since remained.

For all parties, it was the right thing to do. City earned the most that they could from Buendia while his stock was at its highest, and he got the opportunity to play in the first division consistently. There shouldn't be many regrets about that £33 million deal.