Besiktas defender Pepe is urging former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to join him in Turkey.

Pepe discussed Ronaldo on Besiktas' official TV channel.

"He's a person I have total respect for," he said of his Portugal colleague. "He's a friend and an extremely important person for me. If it were possible for it to happen, of course I'd love him to join Besiktas.

"Off the field, Cristiano is an extremely normal person. When I see them talking about him in the media, I think: 'That's impossible, that's a lie'."

Pepe, who has made 16 appearances for Besiktas since moving from Real, added: "People don't know the real Cristiano. He's a normal guy with normal habits like us.

"He loves his family and his kids and, for him, being a father is really important."