Real unveil Pepe

Spanish giants Real Madrid on Thursday unveiled their new Brazilian defender Kleper Laveran Lima Ferreira, otherwise known as "Pepe."

The arrival of 23-year-old Pepe, who cost the Spanish champions 30 million euros, has raised a few eyebrows in the Primera Liga but the Brazilian is determined to prove he is worth every penny.

"I am going to be very committed and get my shirt wet with sweat, it is up to me to show how much I am worth."

The fee paid by Real for a relatively unknown player provoked criticism from Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

"This kind of transaction, these elevated fees, raise the market prices for everyone. We have to work on more appropriate amounts," he said 24 hours after Barca signed Real Zaragoza's Argentine defender Gabriel Milito for an estimated 20 million euros.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casilla stood firm in his support of his club parting with 30 million for Pepe saying: "If Real want to spend that amount on a player it is because he is worth it and very talented."

Pepe has agreed a five-year contract and will immediately join up with the squad and newly appointed head coach Bernd Schuster, who replaced Fabio Capello.

Pepe is the latest in a growing list of new recruits at the Bernabeu Stadium including the recent arrival of German defender Christoph Metzelder.

The Spanish champions are still chasing Romanian defender Christian Chivu of AS Roma and are also targeting Chelsea's Dutch winger Arjen Robben before the end of the summer.