LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Ayoze Perez of Leicester City celebrates with teammate James Maddison after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United at The King Power Stadium on January 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Leicester City forward Ayoze Perez is reportedly set to join Spanish side Real Betis on a permanent deal.
The 29-year-old joined Betis on loan from the Foxes in the January transfer window and with his City contract expiring in the summer, he is likely to have played his final game for Leicester.
His current team sits fifth in La Liga and plays Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League tie against the Red Devils on Thursday. Betis are 4-1 down from the first leg at Old Trafford last week and are managed by former Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Perez’s performances in Spain have been impressive having started the last five games for his side. And with his time at City set to come to an end, Marca claim in a report translated by Sport Witness that he is set to move permanently to Betis in the summer as Pellegrini “hopes to continue to count” on the player next season.
The Spaniard has accumulated 412 minutes of action in seven games at Betis, scoring one goal, providing an assist as well as winning two penalties. That’s a significant difference from the 700 minutes in 13 games this season at City where he spent most of his time on the bench.
Perez joined Leicester from Newcastle in 2019 and has scored 15 goals during his time at the King Power.
Rio Ferdinand delivers Ben Chilwell verdict after goading Leicester celebration
The former defender was ‘glad’ to see Chilwell celebrate in the way he did after receiving a barrage of abuse at the King Power Stadium
Rio Ferdinand has admitted he is “glad” Ben Chilwell celebrated in the way he did after scoring against former club Leicester City on Saturday. The former Manchester United and England center-back added he felt Leicester supporters “deserved” his antagonizing response after the Chelsea left-back was goaded for much of the match.
Chilwell came through the Leicester City academy and was a regular before moving to Stamford Bridge for £ 50 million during the summer of 2020. Upon renewing acquaintances last weekend, the 26-year-old opened the scoring as Graham Potter’s side eased to a 3-1 victory.
Prior to scoring with an excellent volley from a tight angle, Chilwell was the subject of boos and jeers from the home faithful at the King Power Stadium. This came as a result of the manner of his exit from the East Midlands outfit, which left a sour taste in the mouths of Foxes supporters.
As such, Chilwell celebrated in style as he ran towards Leicester fans and cupped his ears as a direct response to the reception he had been given. Discussing this moment, Ferdinand has said Leicester fans “deserved” this rubbing of salt in the wounds, and that he is “glad” he did it.
“They boo him,” Ferdinand told FIVE. “I watched the game there last year. They got 50-odd million for this kid, a left-back right, out of Covid, and they are booing him.
“But they got more than they probably should have got for him. He did a great job there, and they are booing him for going to Chelsea.
“It doesn’t make sense. So good, I’m glad he did that, give them a bit back, they deserved it. They should respect him.”
The relationship between Chilwell and his former employers became even more strained after the pair clashed in the 2021 FA Cup final. This was an incredibly difficult day for the left-back after his late equalizer was ruled out by VAR, cutting his similarly extravagant celebration short and allowing Brendan Rodgers’ side to waltz away victorious.
Fast forward nearly two years and City fans were keen to remind Chilwell of his misfortunes by chanting “Did you cry at Wembley?”. This would have made his goal and accompanying celebration even sweeter on Saturday afternoon.
