Ayoze Pérez: ‘I saw my name on the Euros list. There was shock, then immense happiness’

After nine years in England, the striker’s international career took off back in his homeland. Now he can become the first Canarian to score for Spain on the islands

Ayoze Pérez does like a nice cup of tea. One November day last season, in the hours before Real Betis played Mallorca, a friend of his had a feeling. “He said to me: ‘You’re going to score – and as the game is at teatime, you should celebrate by drinking one,’” the former Newcastle and Leicester forward explains. “I thought: ‘Well, at least it’s original.’ It’s something fun, different.” Something his too, a challenge to be met. And so there he was a little after half past five lifting a cup to his lips, the year of his life under way.

The following week, in the derby against Sevilla, Pérez did it again. Then again and again. Seven more times last season and 10 this, in nine games. He did it the first time he played for Spain and the most recent time as well, in Copenhagen on Friday, success measured in tea: a symbol of a journey which brings him back to where it all began. On Monday night Spain face Switzerland at the Heliodoro in Santa Cruz. Home of CD Tenerife and his home too, the last time Pérez played there was against Córdoba in the second division in May 2014.