OPINION
While the Premier League season might well have finished for Ayoze Perez and his Newcastle United teammates, the Spanish ace might have had his sights set on playing more football this summer.
The 25-year-old was one of the Magpies’ standout performers in the second half of the season, forming part of a dangerous attacking trio alongside Miguel Almiron and Salomon Rondon.
With 12 top flight goals in 37 appearances, 10 of those strikes coming after the turn of the year, he could have had one eye on his form earning him a call up to the Spanish national side, with his country playing against the Faroe Islands and Sweden.
Unfortunately for Perez, he was nowhere to be seen when the Spanish FA officially revealed their 23 man squad on their website on Friday and that could well leave Benitez sweating over one of his top performers.
Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh has claimed that the Newcastle man’s snub could be bad news for the club, with the attacker said to have hinted previously that his Magpies future could be linked to whether he can break into the Spain side while on Tyneside.
Ayoze Perez left out of the Spain squad for their upcoming matches. Big blow for #nufc forward, who was desperate to earn a place in the squad. He has hinted that, if he can't get in Spain squad while at #nufc, that could affect his decision on whether to leave this summer, too
— Chris Waugh (@ChrisDHWaugh) May 17, 2019
His form has been brilliant for Benitez since New Year, leading the club’s goal scoring charts and looking a transformed player in the attack.
As someone quite clearly trusted by the manager to carry out his instructions, with more minutes than any outfield player other than Matt Ritchie, Benitez would hate to lose him this summer but missing out on playing for Spain is not going to do the Magpies’ hopes of keeping him any good whatsoever.
It remains to be seen whether he does leave but with the manager trying to sort out his own future, he does not need this added headache on his plate.