Despite being announced as a Lecce player on Wednesday, Mathias Normann will not be playing his football at the newly promoted Serie A side, it has been announced.
The loan deal has been cancelled after Lecce expressed frustrations at the 'protracted nature relating to the registration' of the former Norwich City loanee, with the agreement being terminated by mutual consent.
Normann's search for a new club continues, with Lecce now searching elsewhere for midfield reinforcements.
Lecce's social media announced the Norwegian international as a new arrival, including photos and videos of the midfielder that expressed his delight at signing for the Italian club.
Those tweets have now been deleted and replaced with a brief club statement updating supporters that Normann will no longer join up with their squad.
Lecce were crowned champions of Serie B last year and started their season with a 2-1 defeat to Inter last weekend.
Normann has made it clear that he won't be returning to parent club Rostov due to the situation in Russia. He is contracted until 2024 and work will continue to find him a new destination.
Normann made 25 appearances for the Canaries last season, scoring one goal in the process. Norwich possessed the option to sign him on a permanent basis if they would have retained their status in the top flight.
A spokesperson for the ex-City man has moved to squash rumours that the cancellation of the deal was due to medical concerns around Normann.
But the decision was taken prior to the 26-year-old undergoing his medical at the Stadio Via del Mare.
"We want to emphasize that the decision to cancel Mathias Normann's transfer to Lecce was taken before the player completed the medical examination with the club," Normann's team told Norwegian outfit TV2.
"Contrary to what is claimed in some rumours, this has nothing to do with medical problems. He is in better shape than he has ever been in. Now the work continues to find the right club for the player."
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