Norwich boss Dean Smith assesses Aston Villa start for man who went other way Emiliano Buendia
Former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith admits Emiliano Buendia has had a very disrupted time since signing from Smith’s new side Norwich in the summer.
The Canaries boss makes an emotional return to Villa Park tomorrow (30 April), but the record signing from Carrow Road may not be set for a central role.
The midfielder was signed by Smith in the summer for a fee that could total £38million (ITV News) with money raised by the sale of Jack Grealish, but the plan for the ex-Villain’s boss to utilise the Argentine in replacing the £100million departure to Manchester City never happened.
Smith was sacked and replaced by Steven Gerrard in November, and under the former Rangers manager Buendia’s influence has fluctuated.
Of late he has only been used as a late substitute, but his quality has been reaffirmed by the man who brought him to Birmingham.
Speaking ahead of the game Smith said, via the Birmingham Mail: “He’s a terrific player. I think every Norwich City fan will tell you he’s a terrific player. He’s gone into Aston Villa which tells you how the transition of going from one club to another can take time.
“We’ve had to be patient with some of the players we have signed here and Aston Villa are having to be patient with Emi. He’s certainly had a stop-start introduction at Villa.
“He got injured in pre-season and then we had the Covid issue and travelling to Argentina and getting banned and not being able to play, stopping in Croatia for a week or two, so it was very, very disruptive.
“But talent? No question. Heart and desire, no question at all, so no regrets.”
Overshadowed
Buendia was supposed to make the step up from key man for yo-yo club Norwich, to established Premier League operator at the centre of the Villans’ side.
But with a new manager coming in who has ambitious transfer plans the 25-year-old was at risk of being sidelined before he got established.
With the disruption of injury and the Covid-related ban tempering his ability to settle immediately at his new club, that issue was all the more prevalent.
And with Gerrard utilising his former Liverpool connection to bring Philippe Coutinho to the club, the more illustrious South American has taken the limelight.
However, as long as Buendia isn’t earmarked for sale to bring in funds for further big-name arrivals, he surely will be better placed to make an impact next year.
Two goals and four assists across 29 league appearances is not a dreadful return, but it is not enough to justify his large fee.
Bigger stars than the former-Canary have taken time to adapt to new sides though so his chance is not over yet, but he will have to prove to his manager he can be more of an asset than he’s proven so far.
In other Aston Villa news, the manager wants Joe Gomez but the Liverpool player will have to force the move from his end.