Real Madrid defender Pepe feels he has been branded as a criminal after his El Clasico antics.

The 28-year-old Portuguese defender was subject to heavy criticism by media and football pundits following last last month’s El Clasico’s against bitter rivals Barcelona.

Pepe has told Canal+ that he feels like a murderer after being given a hard time by the press.

“The press has portrayed me like I am a murderer. 

“For me the most important thing is to defend the colors of Madrid though. When I go out on the streets, plenty of people still show that they like me.”

Pepe has been at Real Madrid since 2007, in which time he has had a fight in training with Javier Balbao (2008), repeatedly kicked Getafe’s Javier Casquero (2009) and stamping on the hand of Lionel Messi (2012).