Real Madrid star Pepe looks set to move to Turkish side Besiktas , as his time with the Spanish giants looks set to have come to an end.
The 34-year-old defender has already issued his goodbyes to Real fans and a transfer move is expected. This ends a season in which Pepe has mainly remained a second option in Zinedine Zidane’s tactical plans. It now looks likely that Pepe will make his way to the Turikish Süper Lig. Besiktas have already expressed their interest in signing the experienced player. A Twitter post by the club recently presented the player wearing the club’s shirt and negotiatons are likely to be under way.
Pepe joins a host of high-profile, usually experienced players such as Sneijder and Van Persie, taking the road of the Süper Lig. Clearly the notoriety of the competition has increased a great deal in recent years, with highly decorated players being persuaded to join the Turkish championship. Turkish clubs have also become a regular presence in the European competitions and teams such as Besiktas, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray are all setting high goals for the next years.
Pepe ends a highly successful ten year career at Real, with the player having won both the Champions League and La Liga trophies, each on three separate occasions. In recent times Pepe had become somewhat of a rare presence in Real’s starting line-up. It is expected that his new destination will fulfil his desire of getting more playing time and continuing his international career with Portugal.
The Portuguese was also rumoured to be in talks with French side Paris Saint-Germain, a team used to managing its share of star players. The French side’s failure to win the Ligue 1 trophy in the last season is set to provide new incentives for the club to improve the team’s roster for the new year. However, joining PSG may bring Pepe in a similar position to the one he has faced at Real, of having to fight his way to ensure a place in the first team.
Joining Besiktas is likely to offer Pepe more security. It is reported that the Turkish side has already offered the defender a three year contract (as opposed to the one or two year deal that PSG was willing to offer). And if he joins the Turkish side, the Portugal international could become one off the club’s leaders. After all, if the deal does go through, Besiktas are getting a highly successful, experienced player, with some of the best playing stats in La Liga in recent years.
