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Real Madrid vs Manchester CityGetty Images Sport
Soham Mukherjee

Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible gesture! Former Real Madrid and Portugal team-mate admits global icon was willing to give up part of his salary to keep him at Los Blancos and reveals Al-Nassr star stayed in hospital with him after suffering head injury

C. Ronaldo
Real Madrid
LaLiga
Al Nassr FC
Saudi Pro League
Pepe
Portugal

In a heartwarming gesture Cristiano Ronaldo was ready to sacrifice part of his salary to keep Pepe at Real Madrid.

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

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There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
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Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Pepe and Ronaldo share a close bond
  • Portuguese duo spent several years together at Real
  • Pepe revealed unique anecdotes about his friendship with Ronaldo
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Ronaldo and Pepe share a deep bond that goes beyond football, having spent years together as teammates for both club and country. Their connection started in Sporting CP’s academy and later strengthened when they reunited at Real Madrid in 2009. The Portuguese duo played together for nearly a decade at the Santiago Bernabéu, winning multiple titles and building an unbreakable camaraderie.

  • FBL-EUR-C1-CELEBRATIONS-REALMADRIDAFP

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Pepe's partnership with Sergio Ramos in central defence was widely regarded as one of the best in the world. However, injuries started taking their toll, in 2017, he left the club as a free agent and signed with Besiktas in Turkey. While Real Madrid had already decided not to offer Pepe a new deal, Ronaldo was desperate to keep his close friend at the club. Knowing that financial concerns could be a factor in Pepe’s departure, Ronaldo went as far as offering a portion of his own wages to help convince him to stay.

  • WHAT PEPE SAID

    In an interview with Renascença, Pepe recalled the conversation with Ronaldo, where the five-time Ballon d’Or winner attempted to persuade him.

    "I talked to him a lot and he told me to stay at Real Madrid," Pepe recalled. "But I think my time at the club had come, because it was a very demanding 10 years, where I gave up a lot of time. I tried to explain to him that I could no longer be there because of the difficulties I was having at the time and he said: 'If it’s about the money, mate, I’ll give up my money to give it to you!' And I said no: 'Thank God it’s not about that, it’s for other reasons'. I also wanted to get back to feeling football, and that’s it, I decided to go to Turkey."

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  • DID YOU KNOW?

    One particular moment from 2012 perfectly encapsulates Ronaldo’s loyalty and deep care for Pepe. During a league match against Valencia, Pepe suffered a serious head injury following a collision with goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The defender was subsequently taken to the hospital for medical intervention.

    Ronaldo, who played the entire match, was not just concerned about the result—he was deeply worried about his teammate. As Pepe later recalled, Ronaldo spent the entire night at the hospital with his family, offering support and comfort.

    "Look, I have a moment with Cris that will never leave my memory," the former defender stated. "Even though I lost my memory, I missed a part of that game. I remember that when I woke up the next day in the hospital, I was still wearing my Real Madrid kit tied to the bed," he added. "Afterwards, I went to ask my family what had happened, to my wife, who was five days away from having my oldest daughter, Angeli, and on the news I saw that Cris had been there in the hospital!

    "And I didn't even notice him! And then, of course, my mother was there, also worried because she had come to see the birth of my daughter, my mother and my father. Cris was there practically the whole night with me, with my family. Not with me, with my family, because I was in the room. But he was there, giving me strength and some of the comments he made just show the affection we have for each other."

  • Portugal v Slovenia: Round of 16 - UEFA EURO 2024Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT FOR PEPE AND RONALDO?

    Ronaldo and Pepe’s relationship is a testament to genuine friendship in football. Their story is not just about on-pitch success but about loyalty, sacrifice, and a deep brotherhood that has stood the test of time. However, while Pepe hung up his boots in 2024, Ronaldo is still going strong with Al-Nassr and will be back in action on Thursday against Al-Feiha in a Saudi Pro League encounter.