Ayoze Perez is "happy" at Newcastle United and is not agitating for a move away, insists manager Rafa Benitez, despite the forward reiterating his desire to return to play in Spain one day.
The 25-year-old has been in excellent form in 2019, scoring four goals and providing an assist after establishing an exciting attacking partnership with fellow Spanish speakers Miguel Almiron and Salomon Rondon.
But, 'Some day I want to play in La Liga': Ayoze Perez on Newcastle future and Spain national ambitions , Perez stated that he wants to play in La Liga before his career finishes.
He repeated such comments in a TV interview this week, too, during which the forward suggested that, after five years at Newcastle, he may be looking for a "change" in the not-too-distant future.
“I believe in the cycles. I think there is a moment where you plan things, to undergo a change and I think after five years, I think it's the moment," Ayoze Perez suggests he may leave Newcastle for La Liga, but things 'very good' at the club at the moment .
“To go back to your country, play for a big team and enjoy La Liga, [that] would be something great for my career.”
But Benitez , who values compatriot Perez and regards the forward as one of the most-important members of his of his first-team squad, is unconcerned by the remarks.
Given their close relationship, Benitez is adamant that Perez has no immediate ambitions to leave Newcastle this summer - despite previous interest from Real Betis and Real Sociedad.
However, with Benitez's contract up this summer and the United manager having yet to agree a new deal, Perez's own Newcastle future could be linked to that of his compatriot.
"He is someone you can see who is training well and is focused," Benitez - who confirmed, having watched the interview which was conducted in Spanish himself, that the quotes were accurate - said of Perez's suggestion he was ready to leave Newcastle at some stage soon.
"When we talk about the future, we talk about doing things here. He’s not telling me he wants to go, he’s focused here. If he can see the team is doing well, I think he will be happy."
'Some day I want to play in La Liga': Ayoze Perez on Newcastle future and Spain national ambitions
Newcastle travel to the Emirates on Monday night to take on Arsenal, in a match Perez is likely to feature in.
Yet one player who will not be part of the United squad in north London is Fabian Schar , who will serve the second game of his two-match suspension after receiving 10 yellow cards in the Premier League this season.
Had Schar not been banned, Benitez believes the 27-year-old would have been fit to be involved against the Gunners, despite the defender being knocked unconscious while playing for Switzerland last weekend.
Controversially - and against UEFA's own protocols - the centre-back was allowed to continue playing against Georgia, even though he had been knocked out.
Having undergone medical tests on Tyneside this week, however, Schar has been given the all clear and even returned to light training on Friday.
Benitez said of Schar: "I have experience with this sort of thing as a manager. We have to do the tests and be sure that he’s fine, and we’ve done that.
"We cannot change what happened. Our doctor was in contact with me, and was in contact with them. Our main concern was the boy, then after we worry about other things.
"We had [Aleksandar] Mitrovic in the [Tyne-Wear] derby a couple of years ago and we did what we had to do. He [Mitrovic] was trying to get back on [against Sunderland after being knocked out] but we kept him off, because that was the right thing to do."
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