Zinedine Zidane coy on Pepe future

Gareth Bale celebrates with Pepe during the game between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna on January 9, 2016
© Getty Images
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane refuses to offer any guarantees over the future of Pepe, who will be out of contract this summer.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has refused to offer any guarantees over the future of Pepe.

The 33-year-old will be out of contract at the Bernabeu this summer, and it has been widely reported that the centre-back has already agreed a deal with Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune.

Zidane has insisted that he will count on Pepe "until the end of the season", but has hinted that the Portuguese will leave Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

"Pepe is an important player, and he always gives his best when he is playing. I will count with him until the end of the season. After that, I don't know what could happen with his contract," Zidane told reporters.

Pepe, who moved to the Bernabeu from Porto in 2007, has made 329 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid, winning two Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns in the process.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid23174260223855
2Barcelona24166265204554
3Sevilla24164448291952
4Atletico MadridAtletico24136544212345
5Real Sociedad2414283732544
6Villarreal24109532181439
7EibarEibar2411583931838
8Athletic Bilbao2411583129238
9Espanyol249873331235
10Celta Vigo2310493737034
11AlavesAlaves248972429-533
12Las PalmasLas Palmas2477103236-428
13Valencia2475123443-926
14Malaga2468103140-926
15Real Betis2366112337-1424
16Leganes2456132039-1921
17Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2347122639-1319
18Sporting GijonSporting Gijon2445152648-2217
19Granada2437142252-3016
20Osasuna2417162455-3110
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