City's Emiliano Marcondes opens up on prolonged club search

The attacker signed a deal until the end of the season with the option of a further year at Carrow Road to link up with Johannes Hoff Thorup again after working under the Dane at Nordsjaelland in 2019. 

Norwich moved to sign the 29-year-old after attacking duo Ashley Barnes and Onel Hernandez suffered injuries expected to keep them out for the bulk of the rest of the year. That prompted Thorup to turn to Marcondes to offer depth to his forward ranks. 

Marcondes did entertain other offers during the summer, including an opportunity to move to Brazil, the birthplace of his late mother. 

"I have family in Brazil, and we talked to a few clubs over there, and I also thought that was exciting. I was ready to take on a new adventure, but didn't feel there was the right 'fit' of clubs," Marcondes revealed. 

"I have received various offers, which would be an adventure, but for now, I would not be insanely far away from my brother, who lives in Denmark when I now have to be his guardian. So many things have played into my decision." 

Marcondes made his Canaries debut as a substitute in their impressive 4-0 victory over Hull at the weekend, and work will continue over the international break to increase his fitness levels. 

The versatile forward trained with former club Nordsjaellend over the summer, but now needs to build up his match fitness ahead of a gruelling Championship schedule. 

"I have to focus on getting back in proper fighting shape," he said. "I actually feel in really good athletic shape. I've been training a lot without playing matches, so that's the last thing I need. That's what I have to focus on.

"When you have changed to another team and have changed residence, there are a lot of factors that you also have to think about, which are in the back of your mind, and this can also help put a little more strain on your body.

"So my focus is not to get injured and take the days as they come. I don't look too far into the future and don't think about contracts and so on."

Premier League side Bournemouth released Marcondes in June following a loan spell in Scotland with Hibernian. 

Emiliano Marcondes made his Norwich City debut in Saturday's victory over Hull. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Football and the search for a new club were put firmly on the backburner after tragic news in Marcondes' personal life, which saw his focus rightly placed away from matters on the pitch. 

"There have been some other things that have meant something to me over the summer that have meant that I have not been in such a hurry to find a new club," Marcondes told Danish outlet Tipsbladet.

"I lost my father over the summer, so I have spent a lot of time on that and in the probate court. I have to be my brother's guardian and we have been to the family courthouse to sort out the estate and things like that.

"So there has been a lot to look after, which has delayed the process, and that is also why we had to go in the month of October before I found a club."

That sense of loss has provided the new City player with a different perspective on his career but also life more generally. 

"There is never a good time to lose someone, but when I was now without a club, it has been a period where I have been able to think about things, take a breath and reflect a little on my career and my life.

"I have felt what it is that I really want. It is a personal journey. I have reflected a lot on what was going to happen and what was the point of it all," he said. 

"It has made me prioritise some things a little differently, and I have become more reflective. I have slightly different values ​​now because it has changed my value set. I've also just found out that football is my whole life and it's something I'm insanely passionate about."

Emiliano Marcondes is now hoping to get up to full speed at Norwich City. (Image: Daniel Hanbury/Focus Images Ltd)Marcondes is now determined to continue to shine with extra motivation for his late father. That period of reflection has made him hungrier for success in his career. 

"At the beginning, it was almost only because of my father that I played football, so I was perhaps a little demotivated to find a new club, but after a period, I found out that it was also his dream that I should continue to play abroad.

"Even though he's not here anymore, it's still what I want, and what he also wanted, and that motivates me like crazy, so I have even higher ambitions than before," Marcondes said.

"He is the one I play for on the field now. I have also said before, when I lost my mother, that it is an extra motivation when something like this happens. It has set some thoughts in motion about creating my own family and becoming an inspiration for them at some point."

The experienced midfielder has won two promotions from the Championship with Bournemouth and Brentford, and his City debut was his 99th appearance in the second tier.