Norwich ‘will lose’ Barcelona and Man Utd target Aarons

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Norwich’s are resigned to losing right-back Max Aarons, with Barcelona and Manchester United heavily interested.

Aarons has played 32 times for the Canaries this season as they are pushing for a return to the Premier League.

Should Norwich return to the top-flight, though, Aarons is unlikely to be among their ranks, as co-owner Delia Smith admitted at the Financial Times Business of Football summit.

She said: “Luckily, because of this wonderful team behind the scenes, we have some really lovely players.

“They’ve got a nice temperament and Max Aarons is one of the best. He is going to be one of the top footballers and it won’t be at Norwich.

“He knows that, we know that. But we didn’t have any problem with Max or his parents on this particular occasion and this particular deal.

“Obviously, we will lose him, but that is part of our plan.”

Having lost both Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis last summer, Norwich were able to keep hold of Aarons and Emiliano Buendia despite their relegation from the Premier League. Prolonging the stay of the former any further, however, will be difficult.

Aarons has been on the radar of Man Utd, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent months, but the 21-year-old has remained grounded, last summer saying: “It’s kind of natural that, as a 20-year-old playing in the Premier League, there will be things out there in the press.

“I just leave that to the people off the pitch, like Stuart [Webber, Norwich sporting director] or the club to deal with.

“Anything else that happens or takes place, it’s not really in my hands. I’ve got four years left on my contract here, so I’ll be coming back ready to go, ready to attack next year.”

Despite his tender age, Aarons made already amassed 115 appearances for his boyhood club, and his ability in all phases of play is what has attracted such heavy interest.

With Noriwch resigned to losing their young talent, the only question remaining is where Aarons will end up.