Madrid: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane may be enjoying the acclaim that comes with leading the capital football giants to their first domestic and European double in 50 years but, despite the good show, veteran central defender Pepe has not failed to shoot a barb at the French tactician.
Pepe will leave Real Madrid this summer after failing to sign a new contract with the club and has confirmed that he has offers from Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan and English clubs.
The Portuguese international spent 10 years with Real Madrid after joining from Porto, but says he left the club without exchanging a word with his coach.
“I did not say goodbye to Zidane because he and Real Madrid knew I was going before I knew myself,” he said in an interview on radio station Cadena Cope on Tuesday.
“What Zidane has done with Real Madrid is spectacular, but there are things I do not understand, such as why I disappeared from the team,” said the 34-year-old, who struggled with injury in the second half of the campaign and was replaced by Rafael Varene in the starting 11.
Pepe also said that one of the reasons he was ending his spell with Madrid was that the club did not offer him a two-year contract renewal.
“I decided I was going back in January when I saw the club were not treating me in the best way. From there, I prepared myself mentally that my time at Madrid was ending. I have given everything for Madrid. They have been 10 years of a lot of pride. I gave my body and soul,” he said.
“They offered me a one-year deal. They do not give two years to players over 33. There are ways of talking and negotiating. Real Madrid’s behaviour has not been correct.”
Pepe was involved in a dispute with the tax office. “The club did not defend me with the tax issue. They knew I was up to date and had no problem,” he said.
“That hurt me, as I always fulfilled my obligations, and they made me understand I was not valued.”
“I don’t have anything signed with any other club. I could have done so earlier but I didn’t want to destabilise the team.”
Pepe has won three La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues in his decade in Spain.
However, his career at Madrid was overshadowed by a shocking incident in 2009 when he kicked Getafe’s Javier Casquero twice as he lay prone on the ground, for which Pepe was handed a 10-game ban.
