Ayoze Perez knew it was the right time to leave the Magpies back in 2019 but is delighted to see the club thrive under new owners
Ayoze Perez has enjoyed a sensational start to his time at Villarreal after his summer move from Real Betis. The Spanish forward has hit three goals in just five appearances for his new club as the former Newcastle United star embarks on the latest chapter of his career.
Perez, now 31, exploded on to the scene on Tyneside back in 2014, with the youngster spurning interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid to join Alan Pardew’s Magpies from Tenerife. What followed was a roller-coaster five seasons in black-and-white which saw relegation, promotion and 48 goals for the club before a big-money move to Leicester City
That deal came in the final weeks of Rafa Benitez’s time as United manager, with the Spaniard following his countyman out of St James’ Park and Newcastle left battling for relegation under Steve Bruce. All that changed, of course, following the Saudi Arabian PIF-backed takeover in the autumn of 2021, with Eddie Howe leading the new-look United to the Champions League and Wembley finals.
Perez has followed events on Tyneside closely after striking up a close bond with the club’s fanbase and, while he admits he does not regret his move away – he won the FA Cup with Leicester City and played in Europe with the Foxes – he is delighted to see how Newcastle have progressed.
“I had the feeling that Newcastle were always a big team,” the former Magpies forward told ChronicleLive last year. “But after some years of struggle and not doing the right things, the club and the city deserve what’s going on. That’s what everyone wanted so many years ago.
“I knew the takeover was going to make a big difference. That was a very important day for everyone at the club and in the city as well because you could already smell what could come.
“You can see they play in the Champions League after a couple of years so that means a lot. I say that because I felt it. I knew the potential of this club with its massive fanbase. They were missing something like that. Seeing Newcastle back makes me happy.
“It’s always tough to leave when you feel established and well in one place,” he added. “You’re leaving so many memories in football and also in your personal life.
“I signed for Newcastle when I was very young. It was my first time leaving Spain and living abroad is always complicated the first time. When I felt that I was going to leave, it was a weird feeling because I grew up there. I grew up as a person. I grew up as a player as well. They were good memories.
“That’s why there was that little feeling inside of me when I left, but they were very different times compared to now. I felt it was the right time to move on and go somewhere else.”
