Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has said that it is “normal” that there are rumours surrounding star man Ayoze Perez’s future at the club.
Reports this week have surfaced suggesting that Serie A sides Inter Milan and Napoli have been tracking the Spaniard ahead of a potential summer swoop.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, as quoted by the Chronicle, ahead of the Magpies’ final Premier League game, however, Benitez said that the rumours are a result of the fantastic performances put in by Perez across the season.
“It was the same last year,” the 59-year-old said. “He has done well. The people around him have helped him do well.
“When you do well at your level, the teams around you are interested in these players. You cannot talk now because it is too early.
“Ayo has done well so it is normal people will talk about him.”
OPINION
Benitez is right – it is no secret that Perez will be a wanted man this summer after the season he has had. He is Newcastle’s top scorer this term with 12 goals to his name – 11 of them scored in the Premier League – while the Spaniard has also chipped in with four assists. It is also no secret that Perez is a key part of this Magpies team and, if he does go, he will be sorely missed. However, these comments from Benitez should please Newcastle fans. The 59-year-old seems relaxed about the speculation and, far from shutting it down as false news, the manager openly accepted that this could happen and clearly has happened. What’s more, if it was the same last year and Newcastle ended up keeping Perez, who’s to say that things will change this year? It has been a fantastic year for the 25-year-old, and Newcastle fans will be desperate for him to stay.