Pepe has revealed his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo regularly passes advice to their young colleague Jese.
The defender was speaking to Onda Cero and touched on a number of topics, from recent comments made by former Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho to Diego Costa’s decision to represent Spain and not Brazil.
Asked about the reaction some supporters have towards him after he commits a foul, Pepe admitted he found it difficult to handle.
“It’s not easy for a mother in the stadium hear them call her son a murderer when he didn’t commit a crime for you to call him that. People don’t know me,” Pepe said.
Talk then moved to Ronaldo, with Pepe commending his fellow Portugal international for taking Jese under his wing.
“Cristiano talks a lot with Jese. He knows it’s his mirror. Jese asks a lot of questions and Cristiano is always aware of it so he can answer.
“Many people have the idea that [Cristiano] is cold and unfriendly but he’s a normal guy.
“He’s a good friend to his friends. He gives many things to the physios, and tries to help so many people.”
The status of another of the Portuguese contingent at Madrid, Fabio Coentrao, was raised, and Pepe confirmed the full-back struggled to adapt to life in the Spanish capital.
“He comes from a land of fishermen, people who have no resources.
“When he arrives in Madrid the city is a great environment, but it takes time.”
Pepe added that he has been impressed by how Iker Casillas has handled being out of the Madrid first team.
“I defend Iker not because he’s Iker Casillas but because he’s a friend of mine and everything he’s done has been to help Real Madrid,” Pepe said.
The subject of Costa was next and Pepe, who was born in Brazil but chose to represent Portugal after playing there for a number of years, confirmed he went through a similar process.
“Diego Costa is a great player and I’m glad he’s chosen Spain.
“Duels between me or Sergio [Ramos] and Diego Costa remain on the field.
“Brazil also tried to convince me to play with them.”
Pepe was asked about the form of Lionel Messi, although he had little to say about the Barcelona forward.
“It seems he isn’t having a good time. Things aren’t going as they did in other years,” he said.
Pre-season saw speculation Pepe could depart Santiago Bernabeu but he insisted there was never any chance of that, adding he is happy with his situation at Madrid.
“I never looked to leave Madrid because I have a contract and I respect the club. [Carlo] Ancelotti has brought peace here. Everything has calmed down.”
Pepe’s comments were arguably a thinly-veiled reference to Mourinho’s tenure at the club. Ancelotti’s predecessor recently said in an interview that Madrid’s players spent too long looking in the mirror.
“Mou is the only person who doesn’t look in the mirror,” Pepe said, tongue-in-cheek.
“There was no line for the mirror in the Madrid dressing room.”
