Many Newcastle United supporters have been discussing which side actually won from Ayoze Perez joining Leicester City, after Brendan Rodgers benched the Spaniard as the Foxes beat Bournemouth 3-1.
Perez left St. James’ Park for the King Power Stadium at the start of July when Rodgers’ East Midlands outfit triggered a £30million (BBC) release clause in the 26-year-old’s Toon contract.
It brought to an end a five-year stint for the CD Tenerife product in the North East, having left his boyhood side for the Magpies in 2014 in a deal worth upwards of £1.5million (The Guardian).
As well as marking a twenty-times profit on the fee paid, his departure deprived Newcastle of their leading Premier League ‘scorer from last season, as Perez’s 12 successful strikes (WhoScored) eclipsed the tally of Salomon Rondon (11) and was three-times as many as Fabian Schar achieved – with the Swiss centre-back actually the Magpies’ third-best goal threat in 2018/19.
Perez also hit each of Newcastle’s top-flight goals between April 1 and May 11 (TransferMarkt), with his solo efforts against Leicester and Brighton and hat-trick at Southampton ensuring the St. James’ Park natives pulled clear of the relegation picture.
Since joining Leicester, however, the former Spain U21 international is yet to score or assist a single goal in any competition (WhoScored), and has only managed two key passes, one shot on target and six successful dribbles during his 234 minutes of top-flight action, before being an unused substitute as the Foxes beat Bournemouth on Saturday.
Some Newcastle fans have reacted to Perez’s omission from the action as reason to celebrate the fee received in the summer, but portions of the St. James’ Park faithful still consider the 26-year-old as someone who would walk into their first-team.
Here are a selection of the messages shared by Magpies supporters…
Or maybe because they have a Squad and can actually rotate players about
— Kieren Wilkinson (@KierenW6) September 1, 2019
Ayoze would improve our team without question, have all for us under Rafa
— Kevin Reeve (@reevesyk1) September 2, 2019
Perez isn’t useless?! He was one of our best players for a number of years. And we clearly meant a lot to him. Bit premature to be writing him off at Leicester. Sissoko is different… Technically, he’s abysmal. And was one of our worst players. His Euros form got him that move
— Tom (@85nufc) September 1, 2019
I just thought he was still in Ciaran Clarks pocket off Wednesday night…
— Ian McCartney (@beasty86) September 1, 2019
Perez literally our best player the last 2 seasons, also top scorer for them two as well. And Sissoko has ended up playing CDM in a champions league final team? Howay let’s stop being daft
— Dan (@DanMitch789) September 1, 2019
See you taking a lot of stick for Perez criticism. Anyone who actually watches the games and didn’t just look at who scored would know he wasn’t great. Nothing against him but he was pretty average like the rest of our team.
— Scoop Dogg (@JordanCooper16) September 1, 2019
Without his goals 2nd half of last season we’d be the championship fact
— joe erskine (@wesleymartin09) September 1, 2019
With all respects to Perez and Sissoko! The Magpies did hit the jackpot with their sales and absorbatant transfers.
— Vimal Ramjewan (@vimal_24) September 1, 2019
Perez walks in to our team still. You just sound bitter. He was a good servant for us, why cant you just wish him luck and move on?
— Kez (@kezthompsonnn) September 1, 2019
To be fair Perez always thought he was alot better than he was. Glad he’s gone, I’m sure the foxes will want shot soon too
— FootyFan (@Number9NUFC) September 1, 2019
