Sunday, 29th January, 2012


Real Madrid are ready to sound Chelsea out over a dramatic swap proposal according to Portuguese daily A Bola.

Jose Mourinho’s men are thinking of asking Andre Villas-Boas to exchange Brazilian defender David Luiz for Portuguese stopper Pepe.

The Real Madrid centre back has been at the centre of much controversy during his time at the Bernabeu and for sections of the club’s support, seeing Pepe stamp on Lionel Messi’s hand during the first leg of the recent Copa del Rey quarter-final against Barcelona, was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Pepe was forced to issue a public apology to Messi and suffered a barrage of criticism from the Spanish press.

The 28-year-old was quickly linked with Chelsea, where Villas-Boas is believed to rate his talents highly, and word of that has appeared to reach the corridors of power at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho for his part is aware of the talents of former Benfica defender David Luiz, who has struggled at times to get to grips with the English Premier League since joining Chelsea 12 months ago.

A move to Spain could see Luiz better suited to football in La Liga, while Pepe would not consider a switch to link up with Villas-Boas a step down.

Such a transfer would also take Pepe out of the spotlight which is shining brightly upon his every move in the Spanish capital.

Should Real Madrid propose the swap, it will be in the summer, when Mourinho hopes to have led the club to the title and dethroned Barcelona in the process.

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