Perez snubbed Spanish giants to join United
AYOZE Perez has revealed Real Madrid B, Barcelona B and Porto were all interested in signing him in 2014 – but the Spaniard believes his move to Newcastle United proved the ‘right decision.’
The forward caught the eye of scouts with his displays for Tenerife in his one and only season in the Segunda Division and was the named the breakthrough player in the second tier at the age of 21.
Newcastle won the race to sign Perez for just £1.5m and he proved an inspired signing – no other player has scored more goals for the club during Mike Ashley’s 13 years as owner.
Fearing the Magpies did not share his ambition of going to the next level, Perez moved to Leicester City last summer after the Foxes activated his £30m release clause.
However, Newcastle will always have a special place in his heart.
He said of his move to Tyneside: “It was not an easy decision.
“I was very young. You cannot tell what is going to happen.
“You might make a decision that is not the right one.
“That is what you think about the most and you try to make the right decision in that situation.
“The under-21s of Real Madrid and Barcelona wanted me but that would have meant I was going to play in the second division again, the Championship, and I had the offers of Porto’s first team and Newcastle’s first team as well.
“Being in a club like Real Madrid or Barcelona is special but that second-team option made me think maybe it was not the right move.
“I was very close to moving to Porto – very close – and just little details were delaying the move but at that moment Newcastle made a call.
“They were very interested in me. They did not fight for little details and then I realised.
“I always had the dream to play in the Premier League, so that was an opportunity.
“The Porto chance was getting a bit away from me so I said: ‘I think I am going to give the chance to Newcastle.’
“It was the Premier League, so I made that decision and if you ask me today it was the right one.”