5 things you didn’t know about Pepe

Was once most expensive defender in La Liga

Pepe’s rise in Portugal was so steep that he went on to become one of the best in the world. With that, Real Madrid had enough incentive to sign him and splashed out a then La Liga record fee of €30 million in 2007.

The only other other defender who cost more at that time was Rio Ferdinand when he joined Manchester United from Leeds United back in 2002.

Right now, however, Pepe finds himself 10th in the list of the most expensive defenders of all time, showing the eagerness of clubs to spend big for defenders. It must be said that it was Real Madrid’s best investment since Pepe, even after 10 years, finds himself as the first-choice defender at the club.