Pepe wants to return to FC Porto, but isn’t missing playing just yet | OneFootball

Pepe was one of the most prominent figures at the closing of the Portugal Football Summit and, in addition to talking about the National Team, he spoke about his connection to FC Porto – the club where he ended his career and where he played before transferring to Real Madrid – revealing his desire to one day return to the Porto emblem.

“I have a very beautiful relationship with FC Porto. In 2004, after they won the Champions League, I had the opportunity to join a big club in Portugal. The first year wasn’t easy, but then I adapted to the demands, it opened the doors of Europe for me, shaped me to be a winner, and I am very grateful for what FC Porto gave me, and the city. It gave me a wife, three children, and it’s a city I’m very fond of. Leaving the club is not easy for a player. That moment comes when you have to put an end to your career. At that point, I felt I could have played more, another year or so, but perhaps life’s circumstances didn’t allow it. The most important thing is that one day I can return to that club and contribute, to the club and to the city,” he began, in a conversation with Pedro Pinto, discussing this end of his career, spent with his family.

“It’s a phase in life where family is very important. They also buy into what you want for the future, and from the age of 30 I started to notice that. Throughout all those years I always tried to respect rest, diet, training. It was very hard work for someone over 40, 24 hours a day, always thinking about those 90 minutes,” he explained, also recalling the start of his career in Portugal, at Marítimo.

“At 18 I had a dream of being a player and being able to play a game that would be broadcast on TV for my mother to see. I had the opportunity to come to Portugal early, they welcomed me very well, the beginning is always very complicated, leaving your parents, siblings, your roots, but Madeira and Portugal embraced me. I made great friends. It was a job of sacrifice, resilience, I believed and didn’t want to let down the people who always believed in me. I was a very intense player because I always believed that hard work pays off. I came to see that losing is also part of it, as long as you give everything on the pitch and with rigor, that’s what sport is all about,” he said, also mentioning his time at Real Madrid.

“It’s true, I had that opportunity for ten years, for me at the best club in the world. The demands were brutal, people and those who understand the pressure at Real… we learned that a lot at Real. Speaking for myself, when I won at Real I was even afraid of victory, because three days later there was another demanding game and it didn’t matter if we played against Bayern or Man. United, but if we played against an average LaLiga team… They were quality players at their best. Being in that environment for 10 years… we learned that every game is important. When I won a game, it seemed like I couldn’t enjoy it, so we tried to be very level-headed and keep our feet on the ground,” he assured, and shared that he now cycles to maintain the adrenaline he felt on the pitch.

“That personality never goes away, missing playing… not yet. I always gave my best, but now the adrenaline… I learned and I ride a bike a bit, I’m an amateur cyclist, and it gives you that, that battle with yourself. I run a lot, I keep myself healthy. I’ve already played in the Legends, but football never leaves our essence, it will always be present and because I believe I can be an asset to help the younger ones,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.