The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pepe

  • Pepe Joins Besiktas From Real Madrid

    Pepe Joins Besiktas From Real Madrid

    Besiktas have completed the signing of Real Madrid defender Pepe.

    The Portuguese, who has represented Los Blancos for 10 years, failed to agree a new contract with the club and was tipped to sign for PSG.

    The 34-year-old even went as far as to have a medical with the Ligue 1 giants, according to Marca,but the deal fell through.

    The paper reported that Pepe would instead agree terms with Turkish club Besiktas, and would fly to Istanbul following the Confederations Cup.

     

    The Portuguese has left Real Madrid after a decade of service (Photo: @Besiktas/Twitter)

    According to reports in Turkey, the defender has signed on a three-year deal and will earn around €3.25million per season.

    Real fans have been keeping a close eye on the movement of the club veteran, who on Tuesday took to Twitter to tease out his next move ahead of an official announcement.

    Posting online, the 34-year-old uploaded an image of Besiktas’ stadium alongside the caption: “bu sene?” which translates as “this year?”

  • Pepe says goodbye to Real Madrid fans

    Pepe says goodbye to Real Madrid fans

     

    Pepe has written a heartfelt farewell note to Real Madrid after confirming his 10-year Santiago Bernabeu stay will soon come to an end.

    The combative central defender revealed on Monday he would not be extending his stay when his contract expires this month, having only been offered a deal for one more year instead of the two he was hoping for.

    He has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, while rumours of a Premier League switch also abound, but on Tuesday the Portugal international was in the mood for nostalgia.

    The 34-year-old wrote on Instagram: “On July 12, 2007 I arrived at Real Madrid with the illusion of a boy who arrived where he had dreamed every day of his childhood.

    “Today, 10 years later, I have to stop wearing this badge. Every day I wore this shirt, I did it with the illusion of always.

    “Today I can only thank all of you who have supported me, that you have written this beautiful story with me. Thanks to each one of you, who accompanied me. Thanks to all the friends and colleagues I know will stay wherever I go.

    “I say goodbye also to this city, which has seen the birth and growth of my daughters. I am very happy for what I have achieved and I will carry your affection in the heart!

    “And I say it again … The best of these 10 years ??? To train every day, to live with each and every one of the employees of this club … Treading the Santiago Bernabeu and feeling your support was always magic!

    “In my heart I keep your affection, and this feeling of duty fulfilled … Real Madrid and your affection will always be part of my history, my life! Thanks and Until Always! “.

    Pepe won three LaLiga titles with Madrid and a hat-trick of Champions League winners’ medals.

    He was often criticised for his perceived ill-discipline on the field, which did little to win favour with neutrals, but he remains a popular figure among Los Blancos fans.

  • Pepe suffers broken ribs

    Pepe suffers broken ribs

    Real Madrid defender Pepe suffered a double rib break in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, the LaLiga leaders have confirmed.
    The centre-back opened the scoring in the derby at the Santiago Bernabeu but was replaced by Nacho in the 67th minute after a collision with team-mate Toni Kroos on the edge of the area.
    Pepe was sent for hospital tests, which have confirmed the extent of the damage.
    “Following the tests carried out on Pepe at the Sanitas la Moraleja University Hospital, the player has been diagnosed with fractures to his seventh and eighth left ribs,” a Madrid statement confirmed.
    “His recovery will continue to be assessed.”
    The news is a major blow to head Coach Zinedine Zidane, with Madrid already missing Raphael Varane due to a thigh problem.
    It means that captain Sergio Ramos is likely to be partnered by Nacho when Madrid face Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final next week.
    Pepe is almost certain to miss both Bayern games and the Clasico against Barcelona on April 23, with early reports in Spain suggesting he could be out for the rest of the season.
    Elsewhere in france, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has criticised Paris Saint -Germainfor making their grievances over a ban one away fans for the rest of this month public.
    PSG will not be backed by travelling supporters in their matches at Angers and Metz as a punishment for damage caused at Lyon’s Stade des Lumieres during last weekend’s 4-1 Coupe de la Ligue final triumph over Monaco.
    The reigning Ligue 1 champions, who are three points behind Monaco at the summit this time around, issued a statement that read: “PSG takes note of this decision, which will impact the away trips of the professional team to Angers on April 14 and to Metz four days later.
    “Nevertheless, the club accepts with great difficulty to see all of the supporters, who have behaved impeccably up until now, deprived of the right to follow the team of their heart as they enter a decisive phase in the fight to be French champions.”
    The LFP responded with a statement of its own, deeming “the public challenge of its responsibility by PSG” to be “unacceptable”.
    “The LFP regrets PSG’s choice to make its case by press release rather than to present them during the investigation procedure,” it read.
    “The LFP would like to recall that, in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, each of the finalist clubs is responsible for its supporters and any incidents and/or degradations that they may cause, before, during or after the match.
    “PSG was therefore fully responsible for its supporters and cannot escape this obligation by simple public statements.

  • Pepe targets Super Cup glory

    Real Madrid centre-back Pepe believes the European champions have a “responsibility” to win the UEFA Super Cup.

    The Portugal international was in action as UEFA Champions League holders Real drew 1-1 with Inter in the International Champions Cup in California on Saturday, before losing 3-2 on penalties.

    Real are partaking in the pre-season tournament as they prepare for the new campaign.

    Pepe revealed that coach Carlo Ancelotti is working the team hard in pre-season, but the 31-year-old accepts that will stand them in good stead for their quest for trophies in 2014-15 – which starts with the Super Cup against Liga rivals Sevilla on August 12.

    “The truth is the coach demands a lot of us,” he is quoted as saying by Marca.

    “We’re here to pick up the pace. We will be ready for the Super Cup. It’s a trophy and we have a responsibility to everyone. We want to win it.

    “Madrid, on the pitch, always has to win. We know that we have to go game by game and each game is very difficult, but we have to prove ourselves on the field.”

    Pepe also spoke of his excitement at playing in a side that will contain Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

    “Gareth’s had two weeks training and he looks great,” he added. “He’s got incredible ability and will be a very important this year.

    “Cristiano had time to relax and unwind with his family. He’s well and I think he’ll be at his best.

    On Rodriguez, who joined from Monaco for a reported fee of around €80million last week, he added: “He’s a very talented player. I saw him when he played at Porto and he has a very good left foot.

    “It’s amazing that Madrid have signed such a great player.”