James got a standing ovation; Pepe deserves that and more
More than one observer was taken aback by Zinedine Zidane's exclusion of Pepe from the Real Madrid squad to face Sevilla on Sunday evening.
Pepe unable to bid farewell to Bernabéu at weekend
The defender had been training at a decent pace for a couple of weeks, and it would have been his final home appearance before his expected move to Inter Milan.
When James Rodríguez surprised a few with his applause for all four corners of the stadium, the crowd responded with a rapturous, sincere ovation.
Well, after a decade of sterling service to the cause, you can multiply that many times over when it comes to the recognition Pepe deserves from the fans.
Pepe deserves more than just a banner
The odd ugly episode in the 'negatives' column is far outweighed by the many wonderful positives he has brought during his time in the Spanish capital.
He has performed superbly, has brought leadership, has been a fine presence in the dressing room and has been an 'older brother' to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Pepe has gone down in Real's history and merits more than just a banner; the 34-year-old deserves a farewell with all the trimmings, however the season ends.
It's not too late; there's still time for a fitting gesture.