Former Newcastle United striker Ayoze Perez stunned Manchester United last night with a wonderful goal at Old Trafford.
Perez was playing for Real Betis in the Europa League, which is a competition Newcastle could find themselves in next season.
The Spaniard is on loan there after leaving Leicester City in January, and led the line for the La Liga side in their Round of 16 clash with Manchester United.
The 29-year-old was making his sixth appearance for Betis, and managed to stun Manchester United with his first goal for the club.
Ayoze Perez scores wonderful goal
Marcus Rashford had given Man United the lead on Thursday night in the sixth minute, but they were pegged back midway through the first half.
After the referee ignored a potential handball, Betis player Juanmi hooked a wonderful pass out to Perez. He chested it down and fired a wonderful right-footed effort low and hard beyond David De Gea and into the bottom corner.
It was a glorious finish from Perez, and his first ever goal against Manchester United in his career.
On the goal, BBC Sport pundit Leon Osman said: “That is a brilliant strike from Ayoze Perez. A sensational half volley. He takes a touch and hits it beautifully.”
Sadly for Perez and Betis, they would go on to lose 4-1 and have a mammoth task to turn it around in the second leg.
A great player for Newcastle
Since leaving Newcastle in the summer of 2019, it hasn’t totally gone to plan for Perez. He wasn’t much of a hit at Leicester City, who will look back at the £30million signing with a lot of regret. The more time went on, the more he fell out of favour under Brendan Rodgers.
Now he has been sent on loan to Betis, despite the fact he will become a free agent this summer.
There will be no talk of a St James’ Park return, as Perez is probably below the level of player we are looking at right now. It was even reported by the Chronicle that he was keen on a move back to Newcastle in January 2022.
During his time at Leicester, Perez has won an FA Cup and played in Europe alongside some great players. He can look back with a lot of fondness, but will know he was never quite the main man like he was at Newcastle.
He was particularly brilliant under Rafa Benitez, and an absolute masterstroke signing back in 2014 from Tenerife for just £1.5million.
Perez got some flack from Toon fans but he always worked hard and came up with some important goals. It is a shame he isn’t on this current journey with us, but his goal against Manchester United was a fresh reminder of his talents.
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