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 which he played for before transferring to Real Madrid – revealing his desire to one day return to the Porto club.

“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 hold very dear. Leaving the club is not easy for a player. That moment comes and you have to put an end to your career. At that point, I felt I could have played more, another year or so, but maybe 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 conversation with Pedro Pinto, addressing 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. I always tried, all those years, to respect rest, nutrition, training. It’s a very tough job, especially for those over 40, 24 hours a day, always thinking about those 90 minutes,” he explained, also recalling the beginning of his career in Portugal, at Marítimo.

“At 18, I had a dream to be a footballer and to play a game that would be shown on television so my mother could see me. I had the opportunity to come to Portugal early, they welcomed me very well, but the beginning is always very complicated, leaving your parents, siblings, your origins, 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 paid off. I learned 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, 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 in three days there was another tough game and it didn’t matter if we played against Bayern or Man. United, but if we played against a mid-table 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 felt 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 currently cycles to maintain the adrenaline he used to feel 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 me that, that battle with yourself. I run a lot, I keep healthy. I’ve played in the Legends, but football never leaves our essence, it will always be present and I believe I am 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.