Pepe shares touching story of Cristiano Ronaldo’s support during a difficult moment

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe opened up about his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with Portuguese radio network Renascenca, recalling a heartfelt moment from their time at the Spanish club.

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Pepe recounted how in 2012, during a match against Valencia, he suffered a serious head injury after colliding with Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. He was taken to the hospital, where he spent the night under medical supervision. Throughout this ordeal, Ronaldo never left his side.

“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,” Pepe revealed.

The two players became incredibly close over the years while sharing the pitch. In addition to spending eight seasons together at Real Madrid, Pepe and Ronaldo were long-time teammates for the Portuguese national team. Together, they won numerous titles, including Champions League trophies and the historic Euro 2016 championship.