9 August 2007

Pepe wants Quaresma to follow him to Real Madrid

Pepe has welcomed reports linking Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma with Spanish giants Real Madrid, and says the Portuguese winger could become an even bigger star at the Bernabeu.

Brazilian-born defender Pepe moved to Madrid from Porto last month for a fee of 30m euros, and recent speculation in the Spanish capital suggests that another winger is a priority for Real coach Bernd Schuster.

“I have heard about his possibility and I am very happy, because Ricardo is one of the best players I have played with,” he said.

“If he came to Real, he would be very much welcomed in the dressing room. I am certain that he would become an even bigger star in our team. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with this story.”

Almeida support for Ricardo Costa

Werder Bremen striker Hugo Almeida has offered his support to former Porto team-mate Ricardo Costa, who has been ruled out for six months with cruciate knee ligament damage.

Costa moved to Germany in the summer from Porto, where he was a team-mate and close friend of Almeida’s, but he did not play a single minute of Bundesliga football before breaking down with the injury at the weekend.

Almeida, who has been in Germany since last summer, said: “I have spoken with him and he knows that he can count on me for anything he needs. We are very close. We were at Porto together and our friendship goes beyond the pitch. I wish him, of course, a quick recovery.”

Filipe Azevedo signs for Spaniards Ourense

Well-travelled Portuguese midfielder Filipe Azevedo has signed a one-year deal with Spanish Second Division B side Ourense.

The 32-year-old, who began at Felgueiras, has turned out for Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, as well as Marseille and Sedan in France, and spent last season playing in India.

“Yes, I am now an Ourense player,” said Azevedo. “I hope things go well for me and at the end of the year we will see what happens. Who knows, perhaps some interesting things will come up here in Spain.”