Vallejo inherits Pepe's No. 3 shirt at Real Madrid

Jesus Vallejo is poised for his first opportunity in the Real Madrid senior set-up two years after joining the club in 2015, and has been given an early boost after holding up the coveted No. 3 shirt.

The combative Pepe, now of Besiktas, relinquished the jersey when he ended his 10th and final season with Los Blancos this summer. He took the number from another legendary Real Madrid, when compatriot Roberto Carlos was among the last from the Galaticos era to leave the Bernabeu in 2007.

Vallejo, 20, proved his worth during loan spells with Real Zaragoza and Eintracht Frankfurt over the past two seasons, and was also impressive in Spain's runner-up finish at the European Under-21 Championship, which concluded at the end of June.

He'll immediately fill the void left by Pepe's departure, and offer competition to last term's first-choice centre-halves Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos.