Real Madrid defender Toni Rudiger admits he is happy to follow in the footsteps of Pepe.

Rudiger concedes he was a big fan of the Portugese when he was playing for Real Madrid.

He told AS: "I like him a lot, there is no more. There are many people who think that he is too aggressive, but I think he is an excellent footballer. And that's what I saw in him.

"Two types of character intersect in him. I've heard that off the field he's a great guy, calm… But on the field he's… well, a different person. For me he has been a top-3 of the central defenders of this generation."

Rudiger added: "I haven't seen any red cards in the last five years. People know that I like to be aggressive on the pitch, but also that I act as cleanly as possible."