Real Madrid extends Pepe’s contract until 2017

Real Madrid defender Pepe has signed a contract extension which will keep him with at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2017. With this extension I’ll continue to wear this shirt with great pride. Playing for Real Madrid had always been one of my aims, and when you receive the call from this club, you feel a real sense of fulfilment.

Pepe’s existing contract was expiring next summer and now he has agreed with the club to extend it by a further year.

The Brazil-born Portugal global was at the Bernabeu on Friday morning with agent Jorge Mendes, and put pen to paper on the new deal offered by Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Pepe joined Madrid from Porto for €30 million in 2007, and has been a first choice for subsequent coaches Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

The centre-back has been struggling with a thigh injury and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play in Real’s La Liga opener against Sporting Gijon on Sunday. He has also won the league title twice and the Champions League in 2014.