The man who signed Emi Buendia for Aston Villa admits the club are having to be patient with the Argentina star. Former Villa boss Dean Smith makes what is expected to be an emotional first return to Villa Park this weekend where his Norwich City side could be relegated. Smith, of course, was in charge of his home town club last summer when he snapped up Buendia for £33million from the Canaries, only to be sacked by November when he was swiftly appointed at Carrow Road.
Dean Smith said: “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.”
