After already making one signing from the La Liga, Manchester City are working according to their future manager and trying to bring over another player from Spain, this time making an offer for Pepe of Real Madrid, who doesn’t quite feel at home anymore.
While Pellegrini still hasn’t been made official, it seems to be him pulling the strings after Jesus Navas was signed from Sevilla. According to AS, they’re now trying to sign the notorious centre back who lost his place in the lineup at the end of last season, with Raphael Varane beating him to it while his feud with Jose Mourinho didn’t really help him.
Pellegrini himself worked with Pepe in 2009-2010 during his only season as manager of Real Madrid. With Mourinho leaving, Real Madrid are trying to get rid of unwanted pieces, possibly of those who remind them too much of their former manager and some of his tactics, with the 30-year old Portuguese international on top of that list.
The thing about Pepe is that when he’s not trying to break someone’s kneecap, he is quite the formidable defender. Still a physical beast and dominant against almost anyone, he also played the defensive midfielder position quite well, being used in almost a free role to press up and down the field a few times, mostly to a gratifying level of success.
Pepe isn’t going to find a lot of interest around Europe for his services, so the chances are Manchester City sign him quite cheaply, maybe even for £2.5 million if the Spanish press is to be believed, despite being signed for 10-times that price when he arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2007.
His salary, which is currently at €3.5 million a season, will definitely rise once he arrives at Eastlands, possibly even doubling if that is what it takes to bring him over from Spain.