Pepe determined to prove his worth at Real Madrid

MADRID, July 12 (Reuters) Real Madrid's new centre back Pepe said today he was determined to prove he was worth the 30 million euros his former club Porto said the Spanish champions had paid for him.

The 24-year-old Brazilian, who will achieve dual-Portuguese and Brazilian nationality next month, has signed a five-year contract as Real seek to strengthen their back line for next season.

''I want to thank the club for showing their confidence in me.

Real Madrid are a big club and they know what they are buying. Now it is up to me to demonstrate I am worth it,'' Pepe told a news conference.

''I am a player who works hard, is fast and strong. I have two Portuguese league titles behind me, and although the Spanish league is different I am going to do my best.'' Pepe, who is nicknamed ''the scissors'', said he was unphased at having to compete for a place in the starting line up with Italian World and European Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro and Germany international Christoph Metzelder.

''I don't consider myself the third centre-back. I have to give my all and then it is the coach who will decide,'' he added.

''Pressure is a good thing and any player who comes here knows what is required of him.'' Pepe is Real's second signing of the close season after Bernd Schuster was named as Fabio Capello's successor as coach on Monday.

Metzelder was presented on Wednesday and Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and Argentine striker Javier Saviola are reported by the Spanish media to be next on Real's agenda.

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