Leicester City star Ayoze Perez has expressed his disappointment at the lack of recognition he receives in his native Spain.
Perez has been a regular in the Premier League since his move to Newcastle United from Tenerife in 2014.
Since then, he’s racked up 43 goals in 194 games in the Premier League as well as nine in the Championship, four in the FA Cup and three in the League Cup.
That tally puts the Leicester forward among the top goalscoring Spanish players to have played in the division, but so far, it has not equated to international recognition.
So far, Perez has managed just two appearances for his country’s U21 side, with a 13-minute appearance against Hungary’s U21’s and 90 minutes vs Austria’s U21’s in 2014, his only international caps.
“I don’t feel that I am (valued). That’s my feeling, and everyone will have their own. I feel that I am not recognised as much as perhaps I should be,” he told AS.
“Taking it to the subject of the national team is the best example. I don’t feel I have the recognition I deserve to have. In general, more of the same.
“I don’t think I’m very recognised in Spain. That’s the way it is, and you have to accept it and respect it, but I would like it to be different.
“If you look at the numbers, I think I have made an important name for myself in a league as big as the Premier League.
“I am a Spaniard who has been here for many years, and I have done well enough to have that recognition. Now I have the goal of becoming one of the top-scoring Spaniards in the Premiership.
“I am sixth, nine goals behind Diego Costa, who is third; I would pass Cesc and other important players in Spain.
“To be among the top three Spaniards in the Premiership would be very important for me. We’re talking about Cazorla, Fabregas, Arteta… These are small goals that you set yourself, and I’m very clear about that.”
