Real Madrid have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with FC Porto’s Brazilian defender Felipe for next summer.
If a report from Spanish publication AS is to believed, then Los Blancos have reportedly found their successor to Pepe in the form of FC Porto’s Brazilian’s centerback – Felipe Augusto de Almeida Monteiro, simply better known as ‘Felipe’.
The Real Madrid hierarchy have been in touch with Felipe’s agent Giuliano Bertolucci, and have come to a verbal agreement which states that the 27-year-old will move to the Santiago Bernabeu prior to the start of next campaign. Now all that is left, is to negotiate with Porto themselves.
Felipe, who joined the Dragões from Brazilian top flight team Corinthians in the summer, has a €50 million release clause inserted into his contract. However, given the terrible state of Porto’s finances, they will reportedly be willing to sanction the move for anywhere between €25 to €30 million.
Felipe’s sale will also go a long way in helping them settle a reported €100 million debt next summer. Real Madrid have reportedly been scouting the player for quite some time and Zinedine Zidane has given his personal approval for this move after having the studied the defender.
Felipe has been a permanent fixture in Porto’s starting XI after arriving in the summer. He has started all 37 appearances he’s made across all competitions this season and scored 3 goals and his impressive performances have even earned him a call up to the Brazilian national team.
Described as a physically powerful and extremely fast player, Felipe is best known for the aerial threat he possesses and as a result, is a great asset to having for set pieces. He is also good at one-on-ones and is a technically adept defender, who exudes calm while on the pitch.
Pepe, now aged 34, has failed to agree a new contract with Real Madrid and has fallen down the pecking order in Zidane’s team sheet due to the emergence of Varane. As a result, he seems to be edging closer and closer to a move away in the summer.
Despite his experience in the Brazilian Leagues, it remains to be seen whether Felipe can prove to be an able replacement for Pepe and also provide decent competition to Raphael Varane for a starting position in Zidane’s team.
