"I’ll give you my money!” Pepe recalls desperate attempt by Ronaldo to keep him at Madrid

• Legendary Portuguese defender Pepe recalled how Ronaldo was willing to sacrifice part of his own wages to keep him at Madrid
• Ronaldo continued to dominate with Real Madrid before leaving for Juventus in 2018 after a breakdown in contract talks
• Pepe and Ronaldo were part of Portugal’s golden era, winning Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League together

Portuguese duo Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo shared more than just a football pitch, they had a strong bond, one that was beyond their time together at Real Madrid. 

In a recent revelation, Pepe recounted a stunning offer made by Ronaldo in 2017, when the legendary forward tried to convince him to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu by offering him a part of his own salary.

The Portuguese duo had been teammates for years, first crossing paths in Sporting CP’s academy before reuniting at Real Madrid in 2009. 

Over the years, they became integral to Los Blancos' success, helping the club secure major titles while also forming the backbone of Portugal’s golden era. However, despite their deep friendship, Pepe decided to leave Madrid in 2017 after a decade of service.

At the time, the veteran defender was earning a reported £110,000 per week, while Ronaldo was on an astronomical £365,000 per week. 

In a bid to keep Pepe at Madrid, Ronaldo went as far as offering to share his wages with him. Speaking about the incident, Pepe said, 

“I talked to him a lot and he told me to stay at Real Madrid. But I think my time at the club had come because it was a very demanding 10 years. 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!’”

Despite Ronaldo’s selfless gesture, Pepe refused, insisting that his decision was not financially motivated. He ultimately moved to Turkish side Besiktas as a free agent, citing the need for a fresh challenge.

During their time together, Pepe and Ronaldo were part of a dominant Real Madrid side that won 11 trophies, including two La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies. They also enjoyed international success, lifting Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League with Portugal.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo remained at Real Madrid until 2018, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals before leaving for Juventus in a €100 million move. Today, he plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but his legacy at Madrid remains unmatched.

Ronaldo mentions his favourite stadium and it's neither Santiago Bernabéu nor Old Trafford

Previously, TheRadar reported that five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo despite spending nine glorious years at Real Madrid, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer and lifted four Champions League titles, has admitted that his favourite stadium to play in was none other than Barcelona’s Camp Nou.

His long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi made every El Clásico a heated one, and he thrived in the electric atmosphere that came with it.