China is known for flexing their financial power in the transfer market, and they have done it again, this time luring a Real Madrid ace to the Far-East.
That man is none other than Pepe, the no-nonsense center-back known for being physical and a tad mad. The Portuguese defender is 34, having spent a decade with Los Blancos.
The deal has been reached, but his Santiago Bernabeu exit will not happen until the end of the current season. Pepe will leave the Spanish capital to join Hebei China Fortune, according to Cadena Cope.
NOTICIA @partidazocope: Pepe se marchará al Hebei China Fortune (de Pellegrini) de la Superliga la próxima temporada. Cobrará unos 15mill €. pic.twitter.com/Y6xDNNEz5h
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) January 24, 2017
His current deal expires in June, with the player wanting a two-year extension. However, due to Les Merengues’ policy regarding a player’s age, a 12-month extension was the only offer.
Pepe will earn a bumper new raise in China, as he will reportedly pocket €15m-a-year playing for Hebei China Fortune. That is almost three times what he earns at the moment with the 11-time Champions League winners.
Pepe has remained an integral figure in Zinedine Zidane’s lineup. However, injuries have him out of the picture – now replaced by Raphael Varane. If the move materializes, Pepe will join the likes Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gervinho, and manager Manuel Pellegrini at the Chinese club.
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