pepe

During the summer of 2004, Pepe signed with top division giants F.C. Porto for €1 million plus three players: Tonel, Evaldo, and Antonielton Ferreira. A clause in the agreement also stated that Marítimo would receive 20% of any future transfer fee.
In his first season, with Spanish coach Víctor Fernández at the helm, Pepe was mostly used as a backup, playing under veterans Pedro Emanuel, Jorge Costa and utility defender Ricardo Costa. However, in the following year, under the guidance of Co Adriaanse, he had a breakthrough season, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the domestic competition: the Dutchman often chose a 3–4–3 offensive system, with the Brazilian often pitched as the only natural stopper; Porto eventually won back-to-back leagues and the 2006 Portuguese Cup.

Real Madrid

On 10 July 2007 Real Madrid signed Pepe to a five-year contract, for a fee of €30 million.^[1] On 15 March 2008, he scored the only (own) goal in a 1–0 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña.^[2] Eight months later, he was involved in a fight during training with teammate Javier Balboa.^[3] The defender would be nonetheless called-up for Real's next match, whereas the winger was not. As the Merengues were eventually crowned La Liga champions, he delivered a Man of the match performance in a 1–0 win at FC Barcelona.^[4]