Norwich City transfer news: Thorup on Jonathan Rowe exit

Rowe has sealed an initial loan spell with Les Olympiens that will turn into a £14million permanent switch next summer, as well as a potential further £3million in add-ons and a 25pc sell-on fee for Norwich.

He angered Canaries fans when Marseille initially expressed their interest, however, telling Thorup he wasn't 'motivated' to feature in an opening day trip to face Oxford United.

But the City head coach hopes the winger's recent actions don't damage his long-term legacy at Carrow Road, and says he had apologised to his team-mates for them.

"He spoke to the team," Thorup revealed of Rowe. "I think it was very good, and I think Jonny's behaviour in the last couple of weeks has been very good, so nothing there.

"I hope that we got to a point here towards the end where it got a little bit better. I hope the fans will also forgive him in the future, I hope they will be at a place where we can welcome him back.

"You never know in football if that's going to be the case one day. The last couple of weeks have been better, and Jonny accepted that it was not the right thing to do. He told that to players and staff and everyone here. We've been supporting him.

"It's always a little bit sad when a player who's been a part of this club for so many years leaves in a bad way. We still have to see if we can remember the good stories and the good memories."

The Dane doesn't believe Rowe was expecting the level of backlash he received, but hopes he can take lessons from it in future.

Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup hopes Rowe can learn from the saga (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

"I think he was a little bit surprised by how it turned out, and the reactions to it," Thorup continued. "It definitely wasn't a decision where he thought that much about the consequences or the reaction from fans and media.

"He was sad about the situation, which is something that can happen but should not happen. We should be able to forgive and move on, of course, but also still knowing that you can't just behave how you want to behave as a player because you want a transfer.

"It's not like you can just come and knock on the door and say 'I want to leave' and then we accept that. We cannot give any players away for free.

"But sometimes tough learning is the best learning you can get. He's about to go to a place where it's fair to say there's also some pressure; you have to be able to deal with fans that are quite passionate.

"I think it's important for young players to have this tough learning, this good learning, at some point in their career. It seems like it's going to be a good deal for everyone here."