I’m a Champions League legend and renowned hardman but I slept in my mum’s bed until I was 17 – my dad hated it

FORMER Real Madrid hardman Pepe revealed he slept in bed with his mum until he was 17 - much to the annoyance of his dad.

The Portuguese centre-back, 40, now captains Porto but grew up in Brazil before leaving for Europe when he turned 18.

Pepe developed a reputation as a no-nonsense defender during a decade at the Bernabeu in which he was booked 79 times and sent off on six occasions in 334 appearances.

But in an interview with , the towering 6ft 2in defender previously revealed he was spoiled as a child.

Pepe - who left Madrid in 2017 - said: "Until I came to Portugal, at the age of 17, I slept with my mother, so imagine what it was like [laughter].

"I was already big and I slept with my parents, so I imagine my father did not like to have me there [laughs]. 

"This is interesting: the other day I was talking to my mother and she was telling me that I really liked to run my hand through her hair and I told her that maybe I already knew it would be too much time away from her."

Known for his clattering challenges and ferocious passion on the field of play, Pepe has previously showed off his softer side.

The three-time back to back Champions League winner with Madrid was in tears when Porto team-mate Nanu was knocked out cold and had to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance in February.

The then-26-year-old was left unconscious after a nasty clash of heads, leaving Pepe visibly upset as the game against Belenses was stopped for more than ten minutes.

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But Pepe was up to his old tricks when he appeared to KNEE Manchester City's Raheem Sterling in last year's Champions League flare-up with the England ace.

And just 18 months ago, the Portugal legend led a shocking 42-man brawl that led to three red cards in a chaotic Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

Even his own team-mates aren't off limits for the Euro 2016 winner after he blew up at pal Mamadou Loum in January 2021 with the REF having to separate them.

But not everyone has bought into Pepe's tough guy act with ex-Prem ref Mark Clattenburg branding him a 'soft s***e' for diving in the 2016 Champions League final.

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