One of the best centre-backs of the last 20 years announced his departure from football this Thursday. The player was signed by Real Madrid in 2007 for 30 million euros when he was a defender for Porto. Pedja Mijatovic, sports director of the white team during Ramón Calderón's management, was the key person for the incorporation of the Brazilian with a Portuguese passport.
We are talking of course about Pepe, who during his period at Real Madrid, formed a centre-back pair with players of the caliber of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, who was the one who ultimately took his job. But beyond his level as a defender, which has always been very high thanks to his acceleration, aggressiveness and speed, the defender always stood out for his excessive violence and more than one serious episode, such as the one remembered against Casquero, and many others precisely against FC Barcelona.
The fans cannot forget the footballer
The rivalry between the Barça of Pep Guardiola, Messi, Xavi or Iniesta against the white team led by Mourinho, CR7 or Pepe is something difficult to forget. It should be noted that the centre-back began to earn the rejection of many culés due to an episode during the Champions League semi-final in 2011. In that duel, the centre-back was sent off after a harsh tackle on Dani Alves which also ended in controversy, as that the meringues 'sold' that it was not their turn. The incident is still remembered for Mou's phrase during the press conference with that mythical "why?"
However, this was not the only controversial episode against an FC Barcelona player. The Brazilian stomped on Leo Messi when the Argentine star was already on the ground. The central defender was so feared every time he faced the players of the Barcelona entity, that the cries of "murderer, murderer" were common when the player visited Barcelona.
Pepe was even punished with a 10-game ban for the aforementioned attack on Casquero and during a Madrid match against Getafe. However, not everything is kicks and attacks, since the player also won three Champions Leagues, three Leagues, one Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups with the institution chaired by Florentino Pérez. Likewise, he was crowned with three Portuguese Leagues with Porto and one Euro Cup and one Nations League with Portugal.