Pepe signs for Nike

Pepe is the latest star on the Nike roster. The US brand has signed up the Portuguese centre-back for the coming years in a deal that will see the defender become one of its key faces, particularly in Portugal, where the negotiations were carried out. The brand currently sponsors the Portuguese national team.

Pepe premiered his new boots last Sunday against Deportivo, trading them in for his usual Umbros, which he had been wearing in the previous game, against Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas. The change of footwear seems to have brought the Luso-Brazilian luck, as Sunday saw him score his first goal of the season, albeit with his head. He is using the same model as his fellow centre-backs, Sergio Ramos and Varane.

Pepe is the seventh Real Madrid player to be endorsed by Nike. The biggest star is his close friend Cristiano Ronaldo, while Khedira, Modric, Higuaín, Varane and Ramos are also on the brand's roster.

Adidas, which makes Real Madrid's kit, also dominates in the endorsement of the club's first-team squad members. Casillas, Adán, Albiol, Nacho, Carvalho, Coentrao, Essien, Kaká, Benzema, Callejón, Xabi Alonso, Di María, Arbeloa and Özil – a total of 14 players – are all signed up with the German brand.

The only Madrid player to break the Nike-Adidas duopoly is the third-choice goalkeeper, Jesús Fernández, who is sponsored by Puma. Marcelo and Álvaro Morata are currently not endorsed by any brand, as they are looking to negotiate new deals.

Source:MARCA.COM