Arsenal should get previous a well-recognized and nonetheless formidable foe to maintain alive their desires of profitable the Champions League this season.
Because lining up in opposition to them in Porto within the final 16 showdown might be a sure Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira. AKA – Pepe.
One of the very best – to not point out most uncompromising and controversial – defenders of his technology. Considering what number of battles the Portuguese exhausting man has been in down the years, most of which he instigated himself, it is exhausting to consider he’s nonetheless working on the highest degree.
Pepe is now 40, however regardless of this, has made 20 appearances for Porto this season to assist them problem for the Portuguese title and attain the knockout levels of the Champions League. He’s additionally been booked thrice and despatched off as soon as, following an ill-tempered conflict with bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon again in December.
Receiving playing cards of each colors has been the backdrop to Pepe’s lengthy and distinguished profession. And heaven is aware of how he’d get on within the Premier League if blue ones have been ever launched!
Pepe has been booked a staggering 212 occasions since making his skilled debut for Maritimo again in 2002 – and despatched off 17 occasions. In quick, he is seen extra playing cards than knowledgeable poker participant. The infamous hot-head will go down as one of many dirtiest stars of all time. His lowlight reel comprises a lot violence it ought to include a authorities warning.
(Image: Getty Images)
During his time at Real Madrid, the place Pepe additionally gained three Champions League titles and three La Liga titles, Pepe beloved nothing greater than to make the nice Lionel Messi considered one of his common victims. Messi scored a file 26 El Clasico targets for Barcelona in opposition to Real, which did little to subdue Pepe’s anger.
In one such recreation, Pepe is reported to have mentioned to his Barca rival, “against me, you always s**t yourself”, to which Messi replied, “against you, what I actually do is always score”.
In one recreation in 2012, Pepe even discovered the time to hunt out Messi en-route to harassing the referee, and stamped on his hand whereas the Argentine icon was laying on the turf.
His checklist of victims is an extended one certainly.
He was even accused of dropping a bullet from a gun onto the pitch throughout one other violent conflict between Porto and Sporting in 2022. While Pepe hit out at FIFA and informed them to “hand the cup to Argentina” within the wake of Portugal’s World Cup exit to Morocco within the quarter finals in Qatar.
He will flip 41 subsequent week – but it surely’s secure to say he hasn’t mellowed with age.
Arsenal, you may have been warned.