How to approach the return of a former Norwich City hero? That is the question for the Carrow Road faithful ahead of tonight’s game against Aston Villa.
Emi Buendia, the Canaries’ reigning Player of the Season, makes his return to Norfolk after pushing through his big-money exit following his second Championship title triumph with City earlier this year.
So, do you kill him with kindness or make it an unwelcome reception for a player who wanted to leave?
Most supporters could see sense in the move for both clubs and the skilful attacking midfielder but that was still combined with plenty of disappointment that the Argentine wasn’t making a bigger jump to a club higher in football’s hierarchy.
City made a huge profit on a player reportedly signed in a deal that ended up being worth around £5million, selling Buendia in a club-record deal believed to be worth £33m up front with a potential further £5m in add-on fees and a 10 per cent sell-on fee.
The 24-year-old also reportedly more than doubled his wages to around £80,000 a week, joining an ambitious and wealthy club that is striving to bring back its glory days.
Having been linked with clubs including Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Sevilla, many City fans had hoped that Daniel Farke’s star man would be moving directly to the upper echelons and potentially even into European competition. Instead, he is a direct threat.
Villa will be hopeful of staying clear of the bottom three but they arrive tonight sat 13th and nine points clear of Norwich, who have slipped back to the bottom of the pile after spirited but frustrating defeats to Tottenham and Manchester United.
Buendia is, of course, not the first former City hero to return to Carrow Road. Paul Lambert’s celebrations of League Cup quarter-final victory with Villa in 2012 ensured that when he eventually pitched up as manager of Ipswich in 2019, he was far from welcome.
The red card he eventually received for a pitchside confrontation, sparked by the aggressive approach of his Town team on derby day, was celebrated like one of the three goals Norwich scored during that victory.
James Maddison has also returned to Carrow Road but his big-money move to Leicester was very different to Buendia’s exit, with City needing the money at the time. He has since returned with the England Under-21s and Leicester and been warmly welcomed.
So warmly, in fact, that there were plenty of online moans and groans about the hearty applause Maddison received as he was replaced during Leicester’s 2-1 win in August, in the 86th minute when Norwich were chasing an equaliser.
A better comparison is with Andy Marshall, who most certainly did not receive a friendly welcome when he returned to Carrow Road as an Ipswich player in 2003.
After 219 appearances for City, the goalkeeper had been crowned Player of the Season in 2001 and subsequently joined Town in the top flight that summer.
The Tractor Boys slumped from fifth to relegation with Marshall largely playing second fiddle to Matteo Sereni but was first choice once the Suffolk boys were back in the second tier.
After a 1-1 draw at Portman Road earlier in the 2002-03 season, the keeper also started the return fixture and was booed and jeered incessantly as he defended the Barclay end goal in the first half.
However, Marshall kept his focus and had a solid game as Ipswich won 2-0, with the negative attention only increasing his determination to avoid any mistakes.
“It was totally, totally tunnel vision for the game and it had no real effect,” Marshall told the EDP after that game. “If anything, it was probably harder in the second half because it wasn’t there.
“I knew what was going to happen, I was focused on what I was going to expect and it lived up to everything I expected – and a little bit more.”
How would Buendia react to similar treatment? Would the feisty South American boil over and pick up the latest red card of his career, or would the attention inspire a player who is undoubtedly capable of causing damage?
Last season he was truly outstanding, with 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 Championship games, to be named the divisional Player of the Season by the EFL as well.
However, when his sale was confirmed, sporting director Stuart Webber that Buendia had "made it clear that he wanted to go" to Villa.
A goal and two assists from 16 appearances so far saw him left on the bench for Saturday’s tough trip to Liverpool, playing the final 20 minutes of a 1-0 defeat.
With so much still to prove to his new club as a trip to the Premier League's bottom side approaches, the Mar del Plata maestro will be desperate to remind the Canaries of his exciting ability.
Ultimately, it’s down to the City players to thwart and frustrate a player known for emotional outbursts, so as tempting as boos may seem before and after kick-off, perhaps avoiding adding extra fuel to his fire would be wise.
City can’t just fixate on Buendia either. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Danny Ings are just a few of their attacking assets to be kept quiet, with Grant Hanley and Andrew Omobamidele ruled out of the defensive ranks.
But if the Canaries can find a way to keep Buendia’s name out of the headlines, that could go a long way to helping towards a win that would be of huge importance.
- Buendia's return was discussed fully in the Latest episode of the Pink Un Podcast, which you can listen to above
NCFC EXTRA: Covid worries for Villa but Buendia is fresh for City reunion
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