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

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.