Former Real Madrid defender Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football The 41-year-old has brought an end to a playing career that spanned 23 years and saw him win 33 trophies.  The final game of his professional career was Portugal’s Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to France Pepe began his career at Brazilian side Alagoano before joining Maritimo in 2001 and then Porto in 2004.  he joined Real Madrid in 2007 where he would spend the next ten years of his career.  he established himself as one of the most successful defenders in the club’s history winning 15 trophies including three Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles he spent a short period in Turkey with Besiktas before rejoining Porto in January 2019 He was also a stalwart of the Portugal national team scoring eight goals in 141 appearances during an international career that lasted 17 years The centre-back played in six of the seven games during Portugal’s European Championship triumph in 2016 winning the Player of the Match award for his performance in the final against France Pepe also played in four of Portugal’s five Euro 2024 games helping his country reach the quarter-finals before losing to France on penalties He holds the record as the oldest player to ever appear in a European Championship tournament Pepe has been Portugal’s bedrock for almost two decades impermeable presence who won 141 caps for his country and was central to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 The centre-back epitomised the type of defender which strikers hate to face – even if But it has been over a decade since the worst of those indiscretions – and at 41 he will retire as one of Europe’s most decorated centre-backs Across four clubs – Maritimo, Porto, Real Madrid and Besiktas – Pepe’s longevity saw him live through multiple evolutions of centre-back style He was both at home in the deep block of the mid-2000s but also evolved into a defender capable of progressing play teaching himself these skills in his mid-thirties desperate to prolong his career into his fifth decade there were no signs his abilities had waned matching Marcus Thurman in a thrilling one-vs-one sprint achieved despite a lack of overarching physical gifts But everyone rated him – he deservedly retires as one of the 21st century’s defining defenders Pepe is Portugal’s ageless wonder - and older than a third of the nations at Euro 2024 US EditionUK EditionScottish SunIrish SunSearchMy Account Legendary Portuguese defender Pepe has called time on his decorated 22-year career The 41-year-old couldn't resist a self-indulgent goodbye as he sat surrounded by the mass of trophies he won in club football - including three Champions League titles The 41-year-old began his professional career in 2001 when he made his debut for Portuguese club Maritimo's second team He would go on to make 521 club appearances in a career that made stops at Maritimo's senior team, Porto, Real Madrid The hard-nosed defender also made 141 caps for Portugal's national team, a figure that puts him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho as the nation's most-capped players Although Pepe was renowned for his aggressive play and a tendency to pick up bookings he showed a different side when announcing his retirement In fact, it is the only video uploaded to his account, which was only created on the same day of his retirement announcement. One element of the video shows Pepe watching his career highlights on a projector whilst seated on a stool. Less than five minutes into the clip, lights beam down on the 34 club trophies he has won throughout his career, which have all been placed on individual plinths. Pepe folds away the many jerseys he has worn over his 23-year career into a briefcase before shutting it for good Pepe's last action on a football pitch came at Euro 2024 with Portugal as they bowed out in the quarter-finals to France via penalty shootout the defender is best known for his 334-game stint with Spanish giants Real Madrid from 2007 to 2017 Pepe formed one of the most formidable defensive units seen in modern football alongside Sergio Ramos at the heart of Madrid's backline Pepe went on to win 13 trophies in his spell in the Spanish capital He also helped lead Portugal to major tournament success becoming European champion at Euro 2016 before lifting the Nations League trophy in 2019 with several of the tournament's biggest names discovering their fate.Top eight automatically into last 16 and seeded: 1. Lazio - Round of 16 vs: AS Roma (15th) 2. Athletic Club - Round of 16 vs: AS Roma (15th) 3. Manchester United - Round of 16 vs: AZ (19th), Midtjylland (20th), Real Sociedad (13th) 4. Tottenham - Round of 16 vs: AZ (19th) 5. Frankfurt - Round of 16 vs: Royale Union SG (21st) 6. Lyon - Round of 16 vs: Royale Union SG (21st) 7. Olympiacos - Round of 16 vs: FC Twente (23rd) 8. Rangers - Round of 16 vs: FC Twente (23rd) Play-off knockout draw for teams 9th to 24th: 9. Bodo/Glimt vs FC Twente (23rd) 10. Anderlecht vs Fenerbahce (24th) 11. FCSB vs PAOK (22nd) 12. Ajax vs Royale Union SG (21st) 13. Real Sociedad vs Midtjylland (20th) 14. Galatasaray vs AZ (19th) 15. AS Roma vs Porto (18th) 16. Plzen vs Ferencvaros (17th) For those teams who finished 17th to 24th in the league phase standings they will be unseeded for the rest of the competition and face the challenge of an away second leg in the play-offs There has been a big overhaul of UEFA’s second competition this season Gone are the days of the 32-team group phase Each team plays eight games with the top eight automatically qualifying for the round of 16 the teams that finished between ninth and 24th go into a play-off round to decide which eight teams will go on into the knockout part of the tournament continues with seeded teams playing unseeded teams semi-finals and eventually the final itself The two-legged ties will be played during February with the first leg taking place on February 13th with the second leg happening a week later The games will kick off at either 18:45 CET or 21:00 CET and will be decided after the draw The knockout phase is a bracket from then until the final Teams finishing between ninth and 16th in the league phase will be seeded teams meaning they will play against a side that finished between 17th and 24th in the final standings The seeded team will play their home leg second which will be confirmed once the draw has taken place TV coverage and live streams: Where to watch or listen to the play-off draw The draw for the play-off round will take place on January 31st from Nyon Switzerland and you can watch it on UEFA.com as well as other outlets quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made on February 21st after the conclusion of the play-off round This year’s Europa League final will take place on Wednesday, May 21st at 21:00 CET in Bilbao. The home of Athletic Club, San Mames has hosted the Women’s Champions League final in 2024 A R&J Lancero? Yes, well sort of… It’s known as the “Porto Real” and like the Macanudo Porto Fino It’s one of the many Lanceros I never knew existed but given Altadis’ general approach to sizes it really comes as know shock that they would have this size particularly in their most popular selling line TX reminded me of the existence of this cigar In the effort to try to capture a full range of the domestic Lancero market some thoughts on the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Porto Real after the jump although things are obviously not perfect as evidenced by the foot The Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper has a real light mustard shade with quite a bit of green Altadis really makes the cigars look darker than they actually are Light veins bulge from the overly smooth wrapper that gives a sweet tobacco and cereal aroma Packing is about average as far as Lanceros go; although this is 34 RG which is good given the little room for error at the thinner RG Aroma from the foot of the Reserva Real is again cereal and tobacco medium plus and relatively straight forward I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros Roberto Martinez and Porto have paid emotional tributes to Pepe as the legendary defender announced his retirement Cristiano Ronaldo has paid an emotional tribute to Pepe after his decision to retire from football The legendary Portuguese defender has opted to hang up his boots after an incredible 22-year career. At the age of 41, choosing to retire was always going to a big moment, but Pepe made sure that everybody knew about it by recording a 30 minute video on YouTube to say goodbye he watched highlights from his career as he sat alongside the many trophies that he won in his pomp One man who won many trophies alongside Pepe was Ronaldo who spent eight years playing with the no-nonsense defender at Real Madrid They also spent an incredible 17 years as teammates for the Portuguese national team where they won the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 "We won everything there was to win on the field, but the biggest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. "You are unique my brother. Thank you for so much." Pepe began his professional career in 2001 when he made his debut for Portuguese club Maritimo's second team. The hard-nosed defender also made 141 caps for Portugal's national team, a figure that puts him behind only Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho as the nation's most-capped players Pepe's last action on a football pitch came at Euro 2024 with Portugal as they bowed out in the quarter-finals to France via penalty shootout Conceicao recalled working with the Brazil defender when speaking at the Golden Boy gala: "Militao played for Sao Paolo as a full-back and could play as a defensive midfielder He was a physical monster and had a lot of quality We had to do specific work to make him the business that he was "The work was on video and on the field on team behaviors that he had no idea about Conceicao revealed that he had to change some of the habits that the centre-back had acquired in Brazil: "Also off the pitch because if he then went to dance samba it would have been difficult for him to reach this fantastic level that he is at Real Madrid the Stellantis Automotive Hub in Porto Real is celebrating 24 years in business reaffirming its legacy in Rio de Janeiro as a benchmark in quality and innovation in the automotive industry the plant located in the south of Rio de Janeiro stands out for its pioneering role in the state’s automotive sector being Rio de Janeiro’s first automobile factory more than 2.4 million engines and about 1.9 million vehicles have been produced divided among 16 different models of the Citroën and Peugeot brands starting with the iconic Peugeot 206 and Citroën Xsara Picasso the models that make up the C-Cubed family are produced in Porto Real: Citroën C3 The Stellantis Automotive Hub in Porto Real has enhanced the use of the state’s ports and airports for export import and customs clearance of machinery and equipment Polo has already exported more than 370,000 vehicles This performance has secured it the Rio Galeão Award for Logistics Efficiency in several years as well as numerous other awards along the way including 15 Firjan awards as the largest exporter from the State of Rio de Janeiro to Mercosur “We have built an extraordinary history during the 24 years of the Stellantis Automotive Hub in Porto Real which is proudly a benchmark in terms of quality and innovation in the national industry,” he said “With the recently announced investments we will continue to accelerate to deliver new iconic products made in Rio de Janeiro,” celebrates Francis Jorge Plant Manager of the Stellantis Automotive Hub in Porto Real To further boost the growth of the Porto Real Automotive Hub, Stellantis announced last year a record R$3 billion investment in the factory in the state of Rio de Janeiro from 2025 to 2030 This figure is part of the largest investment cycle in the history of the automotive industry in South America announced by the company with an investment of R$32 billion to launch 40 new products and 8 powertrains Porto Real will strengthen its multi-brand capabilities and expand its production capacity Stellantis announced the opening of 300 new positions at the plant “Every day we are reinforcing our commitment to the Porto Real Automotive Hub hiring or new partnerships in the region,” he said “We see a promising future for our Rio de Janeiro plant with our CMP platform offers great flexibility and can be used in models of various Stellantis brands hybrid and electric engines,” celebrates Emanuele Cappellano The Porto Real Automotive Hub continues to receive steady investment and since 2011 more than R$10 billion has been invested in new product development and modernization of the industrial unit’s facilities The industrial complex currently attracts more than 200 suppliers with a focus on auto parts companies and suppliers of services essential to the production process The factory is also responsible for 1,800 direct jobs in the plant In addition to driving industrial transformation and strengthening the region’s economy the Porto Real Automotive Hub is based on the pillars of people empowerment Stellantis has been committed to supporting the educational development of young people and providing opportunities for their first employment Among the company’s main socio-educational programs are Formare and Dupla Escola initiatives that reinforce this commitment through vocational qualification and job placement Created and implemented in collaboration with the IOCHPE Foundation the Formare Program targets young people aged 17 to 18 in situations of economic and social vulnerability Its main objective is to provide vocational training to high school students regularly enrolled in public schools and residing in the region where the Industrial Cluster is located The project began at the unit in 2008 and has already qualified more than 200 students 43 percent have entered the formal labor market and 31 percent have obtained opportunities directly at the Stellantis plant in Porto Real reinforcing the program’s positive impact on professional inclusion and local community development The Stellantis Dupla Escola program is an initiative implemented in collaboration with the State Education Department (SEEDUC) The program offers technical training in Electrical Engineering for high school students in the state network at CIEP 493 (Integrated Center for Public Education) Stellantis made improvements to the infrastructure of CIEP 493 The initiative provides quality vocational training to students selected on the basis of their academic performance the program has helped more than 300 students preparing them for new opportunities in the job market Reigning Champions League winners Manchester City There were some big teams missing from Monday’s draw, though, with Manchester United side finishing bottom of their Champions League group behind Bayern Munich meaning they have no continental football in the second half of the season This group stage will be the last of its kind with UEFA introducing a new format styled on the so-called ‘Swiss model’ from next season That will see one big group replace the existing format of eight groups of four Each team will play eight group matches (up from six) The top eight sides in the expanded 36-team league (up from 32) will qualify automatically for the knockout stage and those finishing in ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to determine who reaches the last-16 of the competition Champions League draw analysis: City thrilled The eight teams that won their Champions League groups were seeded in the last-16 draw Each tie consists of one seeded team and one unseeded one This is the final stage of the competition where teams from the same country could not be drawn against each other Teams also could not be drawn against sides from their group The first and second legs will be played across two weeks each It may still just about be 2023 but many teams will have one eye on their potential schedules for the rest of the season ahead of June’s final at London’s Wembley Stadium How badly have Man Utd and Newcastle's exits hurt England's chance of a fifth Champions League place Luke Bosher is a deputy news editor for The Athletic, based in London. He joined the company in 2020. Follow Luke on Twitter @bosherL A couple who murdered their 12-year-old daughter years after adopting her is the focus of the new Netflix series: "The Asunta Case." and journalist Alfonso Basterra (Tristán Ulloa) adopted Asunta Basterra Porto from China in 2001 and took her back to Spain The case came to the attention of the authorities after the girl's body was found in the Spanish countryside near the city of Santiago de Compostela Part of the mystery of the series is why Porto and Basterra murdered their daughter: a gifted and talented child who was multilingual and could play numerous musical instruments Her ballet teacher told The Guardian in 2016 that on a typical Saturday Basterra and Porto's marriage broke down in January 2013 when Basterra discovered that his wife had been cheating on him although they remained in close contact for Basterra Porto's sake the girl told her school headmistress that her mother had been giving her a "white powder" for her allergies the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported The couple reported Asunta missing on September 21 Police arrested Porto and Basterra when the same type of orange rope that was used to tie up Asunta's limbs was found in the trash at their home During the trial in 2015, the jury established that the parents repeatedly drugged Asunta over the summer of 2013 and then strangled her to death, Spanish outlet El Mundo reported They were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison Basterra remains in prison and will be released once his sentence is over in 2033 Porto was moved to a different prison in northwestern Spain Porto was then transferred to the Brieva women's prison in Avila Spanish outlet El Pais reported Porto had previously attempted suicide on two previous occasions in 2017 and 2018 Zinedine Zidane rolled back the years with an impressive display in the match between Real Madrid Legends and Porto Legends. The annual charity match took place at the Bernabeu with proceeds set to go towards the fight against ALS and sustainability of Real Madrid Foundation's projects. Real Madrid star-studded team included the the likes of Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo and Steve McManaman.  But Porto came out on top thanks to a close-range finish by former Slovakia international Marek Cech after eight minutes.  Despite the defeat, it was Zidane who caught the fans' attention with some silky moves throughout the match.  The 51-year-old showed he hasn't lost his superb close control and tricks which had some supporters off their seats during his playing career.  The World Cup winner with France joined the Spanish giants from Juventus in 2001 and held a starring role at the club for the remaining five years of his playing career. During his time at Real he scored 49 goals in 230 appearances, winning the Champions League in 2002 and the LaLiga title a year later.  After an illustrious playing career, his managerial career has been successful since he took the reins at the Bernabeu in 2016. Across two stints at Real, he won three Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles before departing in 2021. Zidane still remains a sought-after talent - with Man United reportedly interested in his services. Zinedine Zidane rolls back the years at the age of 51Commenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Casemiro made eight Champions League appearances for Porto this season. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty ImagesReal Madrid have exercised an option to take midfielder Casemiro back from Porto in a complex deal reported to have cost the Liga giants around €7.5 million Casemiro, 23, joined Porto in a loan move last summer, with the initial deal reportedly including a clause for the Portuguese club to make the move permanent this summer by paying €15 million After the now Brazil international had impressed hugely as his new side reached the Champions League quarterfinals and finished second in the Liga Sagres that option was last week exercised with Porto saying they hoped Casemiro would now be their player outright The deal however also included another clause under which Madrid could themselves keep Casemiro on their books -- reportedly by rejecting the €15 million fee and themselves paying €7.5 million to the Liga Sagres side The tangle of negotiations now appears to be over, with Madrid having released an official statement which said it had taken up the option to retain Casemiro's playing rights has exercised the option to salvage federative rights on the player Casemiro after FC Porto stated that his buy back clause had been activated," the short statement said Casemiro thereby looks set to join the Madrid squad for the 2015-16 campaign with new coach Rafa Benitez also being able to call on Luka Modric Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva as his current natural central midfield options 2020Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links Claus Porto sells a range of fragrances as well as incredibly packaged soaps but they’re in the middle of a big push into the U.S opened last fall.) The wrappings are gorgeous—especially in this world that’s gone so minimalist I can’t find where I’ve decluttered away my joy The thick paper on the soaps has that 19th-century illustrated advertising look while the fragrance bottles are more art deco Stellantis sponsors the Rio Innovation Week the largest technology and innovation event in Latin America the company highlights the new features of the Porto Real Automotive Hub which will receive a record investment of R$ 3 billion in the coming years arrives this year to complete the C-Cubed family alongside the C3 and the new Aircross SUV The three models will be displayed at the Stellantis stand during the event the Basalt combines the fluidity and dynamism of a Coupé and the balance and on-board space of a family model the product will support the French brand’s international growth by leveraging the strength of several models that share a strong character and offer a unique on-board comfort experience the public will be able to visit the Stellantis stand where the three Citroën models produced in Rio de Janeiro will be on display event participants will also have an immersive experience to demonstrate all the potential of the C3 intelligent Citroën sedan with an SUV attitude It will also be possible to drive the Citroën Ami Buggy which stands out as one of the brand’s protagonists in terms of affordable electrification Ami comes with a cable that can be plugged into any 110 or 220V socket with full charging taking less than four hours the largest in the southern region of Rio de Janeiro in recent years the company reaffirms its commitment to the factory by expanding production and expects to create new jobs in Porto Real in the coming years strengthening the entire automotive chain for the development and localization of new technologies The amount is part of the R$ 32 billion investment cycle from 2025 to 2030 announced by Stellantis for South America the largest in the history of the automotive industry in the region The amount will drive the launch of 40 new products as well as the development of new bio-hybrid technologies innovative decarbonization technologies throughout the automotive supply chain The company history started 1993 but the Porto Real was first launched in 2011 They focus and great cigars that are very affordable The retail price is between USD 8,- and USD 12,- per stick The tobacco for the blends comes from Nicaragua and Dominican Republic For 2024 Estrella launches a limited cigar – EMANUEL ESTRELLA With it comes a limited edition of their own watch creation It can be bought either only a box of cigars or only the watch or both together as a special edition Only 250 boxes will be available in the USA The cigars aged 8 years in the factory humidor and since then his interest has continued to grow Cuba and the Dominican Republic as well as attending numerous cigar festivals have increasingly fueled this passion He finds being a member of the Cigar Journal blind tasting panel a great honor and pleasure This all led to the opportunity to become an author on the Cigar Journal team Enter your email and join the global Cigar Journal family By pressing the ‘I AM OF LEGAL AGE’ button I agree that I am of legal age for smoking and drinking in my country Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website Content from video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default access to those contents no longer requires manual consent We’re doing all we can to make sure this page is included in the gaffer’s plans The 19-year-old box to box midfielder shone as Porto won the UEFA Youth League last season and has attracted the interest of the Bernabéu Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing Porto youngster Romário Baró as the Bernabéu board continue their recent policy of identifying the best young talent in Europe to snap up The 19-year-old Portuguese youth international is a box-to-box midfielder who shone as Porto won last season’s UEFA Youth League with a thumping 5-1 victory over Chelsea in the final capping their run has the highest release clause in Portuguese league history at 125 million euros is an all-round midfielder who has good tactical awareness and is always on the lookout for an opportunity to hit on the break He is currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in a rough challenge with Santa Clara’s Fabio Cardoso but is expected to be back in action before too long He is also a firm fan of Real manager Zinedine Zidane and emulates the Frenchman’s trademark moves in training “I am always watching videos of him on YouTube Real Madrid have announced an agreement to sign Porto defender Eder Militao in the summer marking the club's first signing since Zinedine Zidane's return as manager Militao, 21, will move to the Bernabeu in June on a six-year deal, Madrid announced in a statement 🇧🇷 Internacional absoluto con Brasil🛡 Defensa🗓 21 años📺 ¡Descubre más sobre nuestro nuevo jugador, Éder Gabriel Militão! 👉 https://t.co/Kr8mlhkgp5 | #WelcomeMilitao pic.twitter.com/jwdWFqPqYB The Brazilian only joined Porto from Sao Paulo last summer for €4 million. In a separate statement, Porto confirmed the fee would be €50 million Spanish outlet Marca reported this week that the release clause would rise by 50 percent to €75m if a deal is not completed by July 15 Militao has scored three goals for Porto this season including one in the Champions League group-stage win over Schalke He played in both legs of the round-of-16 victory over Roma that secured the Portuguese club's place in the quarterfinal draw Zidane returned to Madrid this week nine months after quitting Los Blancos to replace Santiago Solari who was shown the door following a dismal two weeks which saw them lose two Clasicos to Barcelona and at home to Ajax The defeats ended their interest in the Champions League and Copa del Rey -- and left them 12 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga but have conceded more goals (32) than any other side in the top eight of the table except for sixth-placed Sevilla what you're looking for isn't here.. OneFootball's home page Search Settings Sign In Sign InJoinReal Madrid Are Keen On Bringing This Porto Player: What Will He Bring Real Madrid are planning to bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer and have identified Porto’s Diogo Costa as a potential candidate as per Fichajes. The club’s new move has come after Thibaut Courtois suffered another injury while training The Whites are doubtful over the fitness of the Belgian’s goalkeeper in the long run. However, they want to bring someone who would compete for the primary position rather than a perfect replacement. Notably, Premier League club Chelsea have also registered their interest Diogo Costa has proved himself at PortoDiogo Costa had to work hard and prove himself before getting an opportunity in the senior team he grabbed it with both hands and didn’t let that slip off He has emerged as their first-choice goalkeeper over the past few seasons PORTO, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 13: Diogo Costa of FC Porto gestures during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Estadio do Dragao on December 13, 2023 in Porto The 24-year-old has been solid for the Portuguese club in front of goal He has appeared in 37 games this season so far He has quick reflexes and strong hands to prevent powerful shots from going into the goal Costa is also comfortable on the ball and has a decent passing accuracy rate. He excels in giving long passes to create attacks. The goal-stopper is willing to make a move away from Porto to accept a new and bigger challenge in his footballing career Real Madrid brought Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a loan to replace Thibaut Courtois they aren’t interested in buying the former keeper despite the Blues willing to sell him at a low price The Whites want to bring Diogo Costa to fight with Thibaut Courtois for the first-choice keeping position. The Portuguese keeper is still young and can improve with proper guidance. He can take the charge for a long period. However, Andriy Lunin also remains a good option for the role Related NewsReal Madrid to break contract rule with Thibaut Courtois Ancelotti talks Barcelona, El Clasico, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Courtois after Real Madrid 3-2 Celta Vigo Real Madrid youngster’s most recent appearance costs club €4 million – report Confirmed: Manchester City hold transfer interest in FC Porto and Portugal’s Diogo Costa ‘Two months ago I had a go at them, now…’ – Carlo Ancelotti changes tune on Real Madrid man Premier League Awards: Enciso stunner, Semenyo or Delap? Trent Alexander-Arnold announces Liverpool exit Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will leave Liverpool this summer via a lengthy social media statement.The academy product is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the... Ruben Amorim worried about Man Utd's 'real dilemma' after record-extending loss • 21-year-old becomes Zinedine Zidane’s first signing after return• Centre-back agrees six-year contract with La Liga club Real Madrid have announced the signing of Éder Militão from Porto, the 21-year-old centre-back becoming the first transfer since Zinedine Zidane returned to manage the club. Militão has agreed a six-year deal in readiness for his summer move. Read moreThe fee for the Brazilian centre-back who can also play at right-back and as a defensive midfielder is believed to be €50m (£43.5m) after Real Madrid met a buyout clause which was set to rise by 50% at the end of the season Militão, who has won one cap for Brazil, began with his hometown club São Paulo before moving to Porto in August 2018. This season he has helped the Portuguese champions reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over Roma at the last-16 stage A statement on the club website read: “Real Madrid CF and FC Porto have agreed the transfer of the player Éder Militão who will be linked to the club during the next six seasons Real Madrid look likely to end this season without a trophy after they suffered a shock elimination from the Champions League when beaten at home by Ajax last week, with the manager, Santiago Solari, sacked on 11 March. They are 12 points behind the leaders Barcelona in La Liga and were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by the Catalan club. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Iker Casillas has told football fans to “relax” after rumours spread on Friday that the veteran goalkeeper was on the verge of retiring Casillas, 37, joined Porto from Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2015 but his professional career was plunged into doubt when he suffered a heart attack in training earlier this month. He was taken to hospital on 1 May during a club training session in Porto and has not appeared for the Primeira Liga side since. On Friday morning reports from Spain suggested the former Madrid captain was poised to announce his retirement from football, although on Twitter the goalkeeper insisted he has not yet come to a decision. “Retire? There will come a day when I have to retire,” he wrote. “But let me announce that news when the time comes. For now, relax. “I had an appointment with Dr Filipe Macedo [on Thursday] and everything is going well. That is good news that I wanted to share.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies The Liga giants have confirmed that they have an agreement in place which will see the highly-rated defender link up with them over the summer Real Madrid have completed the €50 million (£43m/$57m) signing of Eder Militao from Porto with the defender set to link up with them on a six-year contract The 21-year-old Brazilian is a player who has registered on the transfer radar of those at the Santiago Bernabeu for some time Militao becomes the first addition made during Zinedine Zidane’s second reign in the Spanish capital with the Frenchman having moved quickly to land a top target upon returning to Real A statement released by Madrid on their official website read: “Eder Gabriel Militao is officially a new Real Madrid player "The 21-year-old defender will join the club next season and is already a full Brazil international "These qualities have been on consistent display since his arrival at Porto last summer as he has adapted swiftly to the European game.” Militao only arrived in European football during the summer of 2018 Porto acquired him from Sao Paulo and handed him a five-year contract He will have seen out less than 12 months of that agreement before heading to Madrid Those at the Santiago Bernabeu are hoping that he proves to be a shrewd addition for the future A man who made his senior international debut for Brazil in September 2018 will join a defensive unit in Spain which has been far from watertight this season The Blancos have endured a difficult campaign as a result with Zidane becoming the third man to fill their managerial hot-seat He has enjoyed considerable success in that role before and will be hoping to see Militao help to deliver more once welcomed into the Real fold For now, the South American is chasing down major honours with Porto, with the Portuguese giants waiting to discover who they will land in the Champions League quarter-finals when the draw for the last eight is made on Friday 34-year-old goalkeeper tells Bernabéu press conference• Casillas’s parents claim he was forced out by president Pérez• Departure may clear path for David de Gea to join Real Madrid “C’est fini”. With those two words in French, a tearful Iker Casillas brought to an end his farewell statement on Sunday to the Real Madrid fans he has served as first-team goalkeeper and captain for 16 seasons Dressed in a dark blue shirt and sitting alone in front of the assembled media at the Bernabéu stadium, the 34-year-old, who is leaving for Portuguese side Porto, choked up several times as he thanked Real for “giving me everything”. “This club also moulded me as a person and helped me to grow,” said Casillas, who joined the Real academy at the age of nine and debuted for the first team at 18. “Beyond remembering me as a good goalkeeper or a bad goalkeeper, I just hope that people remember me for being a good person,” he added. Read moreCasillas was speaking after Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo published an interview with his parents on Sunday, in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by president Florentino Pérez. Casillas had been the victim of an orchestrated campaign of “vilification” in recent years which eventually prompted his decision to quit, they added. Real did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Casillas did not take questions after making his statement, in which he did not mention Pérez by name. The impression remains that the Spain captain is leaving under a cloud after he was whistled by some fans at the Bernabeu last season, when the club failed to win major silverware. Read moreDespite a glowing club statement released on Saturday it was telling that no Real officials appeared with Casillas on Sunday in huge contrast to his close friend and former Spain team mate Xavi left Barcelona for Qatari side Al-Sadd at the end of last season and was given a series of rousing send-offs by fans Casillas said he was excited about joining Porto who are coached by Spanish ex-keeper Julen Lopetegui and that he would fight hard to win as many trophies as possible His decision to leave Real is widely believed to have been prompted by the expected arrival of Manchester United’s David de Gea the 24-year-old former Atlético Madrid man who is also expected to take over from Casillas as Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper Regular playing time in Portugal for Porto should allow Casillas to extend his international career at least until next year’s European Championships in France Arsenal will face Porto in the last 16 of the 2023-24 Champions League while Real Madrid tackle RB Leipzig in the first knockout round The goalkeeper breaks down in tears after his 25 years at the Bernabéu end with the relationship between him and the club becoming untenable There was no happy ending but at least there was an ending There needed to be one because the situation had become untenable damaging ones; years in which José Mourinho saw a sinner and made a martyr of the man they had called the saint in which he was whistled by some supporters and in which the president showed him the door with ever-decreasing subtlety Perhaps the best demonstration of that was this: there was something telling and uncomfortably fitting about the way it ended Casillas has played 725 games for Madrid and has won every trophy there is: winner of three European Cups and five league titles as well as two European Championships and the World Cup with Spain he has been there for quarter of a century and had intended to be there his entire life But Madrid did not want him and did not wave him off His former team-mates were on a plane to Australia president Florentino Pérez was not present and no director accompanied him but final negotiations to rescind his contract had become bitter and the deal had momentarily fallen through both sides’ only satisfaction came from seeing the back of each other if there had genuinely been plans for one in the first place but reports suggested that Casillas had turned down the opportunity the insincere embrace of a club that forced him out Iker Casilas bids a tearful farewell to Real Madrid GuardianAnd so all there was on Sunday was this “This should only take 30 seconds but I think I’ll take an hour,” Casillas said when he appeared at the Santiago Bernabéu laying his statement on the desk – polite but unremarkable words of thanks – and blowing out his cheeks “You’ll get another one with tears,” he said “I told you the first photo would be no use,” he said He had been there for nine minutes and that was it damaging ones; the simplest question of all perhaps the most cutting: “Why?” How did it come to this The battle around Casillas has often been vicious and is one in which some of his defenders did him more harm than good The lines were clearly drawn when Mourinho dropped him in December 2012 and the consequences were lasting but nor has he been anywhere near as bad as his fiercest critics claim said others – if they recognised it at all it was about personalities and politics and Casillas’s reputation became increasingly damaged – the goalkeeper standing accused of leaking dressing room secrets and of lacking professionalism but protection was certainly not offered from the club In one interview he admitted to feeling “alone” Those scars remain; relationships have not been repaired There is a divide that has become entrenched and purely footballing criteria have been buried beneath politics and phobias; it is not just about the player but the legend and the legends that would have been broached and now was not the time; now was the time just to get away It was hard enough for him to keep it together anyway They might have asked Casillas about his parents’ comments too an interview was published in which they blamed Pérez but from which no one emerges well including their son with whom they admit that they no longer talk Pérez never rated Casillas because he was not one of his own signings and because he was “short” but the relationship really soured when they demanded compensation from Madrid over a break-up with Casillas’s then-agent “The campaign to tarnish Iker has been orchestrated by Florentino since 2010; he has suffered for many years,” Casillas’s mother “They have vilified him; it’s been an attempt to hunt him and destroy him,” said his father José Luis They could have asked about that but there were no questions, no celebration, no thanks, and no send-off, no fond farewell. Instead, there were just journalists who watched and listened as the Real Madrid captain who has won it all walked in Los Blancos will have a manageable opponent in the next round of the European competition Los Blancos can’t face a Spanish team until the Quarterfinals and Gladbach is also out of the equation for them because of their matchup in the Group Stage While all four of those clubs have the quality to be a threat for Real Madrid —mainly because Madrid lost twice to Shakhtar in this competition— Zidane and his coaching staff can be moderately happy about the upcoming draw Atalanta are very dangerous offensively but seem to be right in the middle of some kind of controversy between their main star player Papu Gomez and their coach Gasperini Lazio are solid but might not have the creativity to create many dangerous plays Red Bull Leipzig should be the toughest of the four teams with central defender Dayot Upamecano playing great football and Dani Olmo commanding the midfield line it’s safe and fair to assume that Real Madrid should and will be considered the favorites to advance to the Quarterfinals even if they keep lacking some consistency Madrid took care of business in the Group Stage after all their struggles and will find themselves in the driver’s seat to at least play in the Quarterfinals if they show up and play quality football in the Round of 16 Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Veteran Porto defender Pepe became the first player over the age of 40 to score a Champions League goal against Antwerp on Tuesday Iker Casillas's agent, Carlos Cutropia, has said the Real Madrid legend is likely to move to Porto during the summer transfer window amid the expected arrival of David de Gea from Manchester United to be Rafa Benitez's first-choice goalkeeper next season The Real Madrid vice-captain had insisted on a number of occasions that his desire was to hang up his boots at the Santiago Bernabeu despite having fallen out of favour with his own fans in recent seasons But with the club having earmarked De Gea as a priority for the summer, Spanish TV station RTVE reported that Casillas has changed his mind and has decided to continue his career at Porto The Spanish TV channel claimed that even though an agreement has not been reached, all parties were in favour of reaching a deal, pointing out Casillas's exit means an "essential step in De Gea's move to Real Madrid" The agent of the 'keeper has confirmed the news while hoping an agreement between the clubs is sorted to see Casillas playing for Porto next term "There's an offer from Porto and Casillas is excited by the prospect. Now we'll have to wait and see what Real Madrid say," Cutropia said to Marca "Iker is very enthusiastic about the possibility of going to Porto Real Madrid have the offer and know what Casillas wants Right now we're trying to come to an understanding." Real Madrid are likely to let him go for free so the only stumbling block in the negotiations is the fact that Casillas still has two years remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu Porto are unable to meet his wages in full so the 'keeper is negotiating the possibility that the Portuguese side and Real Madrid share his salary in order to avoid losing the money he would earn in case he stays at the Santiago Bernabeu for the remainder of his contract Meanwhile, the Spanish publication claimed on 6 July that De Gea asked United manager Louis van Gaal once again to let him move to Real Madrid during the summer transfer window and Los Blancos will need to pay around €40m (£28.3m 3-2: El Madrid gana y continúa luchando por la Liga Comunicado Oficial: fallecimiento de Rafael Rullán Comunicado Oficial: fallecimiento de José Ángel de la Casa Ancelotti: “Durante una hora lo hemos hecho muy bien” Güler: "La afición siempre nos apoya y me ha dado mucha fuerza" Así llegó el 1-0: zurdazo de Güler a la escuadra El doblete de Mbappé que sentenció la victoria del Real Madrid 96-89: El líder decide en la segunda parte Chus Mateo: “Tenemos que llegar lo más alto posible en la Liga Regular” Valverde: "El Clásico del próximo domingo es el partido del año para nosotros" Jacobo: "Hemos sabido resistir y llevarnos esta importante victoria" 1-2: El Real Madrid suma su sexto triunfo consecutivo en Liga