Real Madrid Lures Neymar, ‘Join Us And Win Ballon D’or’

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has opened the door for Neymar to join the European champions by declaring it would help further the forward’s individual ambitions.

Neymar finished third behind Lionel Messi and winner Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d‘Or on Thursday.

But Perez has now suggested that the only way for the Brazilian to break the duo’s stranglehold on the prize — which has extended to a decade — would be to join Real.

Being in Madrid will make it easier to win the Ballon d‘Or,” Perez said.

“Madrid is a club that gives a big player everything they need to do so. Everyone knows I wanted to sign him.”

Perez attempted to bring Neymar to Real from Santos on several occasions before he plumped for arch-rivals FC Barcelona in 2013.

He enjoyed success in Catalonia, helping Barca win the treble in 2015 before leaving for Paris St Germain in a world- record 222 million euro (£193.4 million) deal this year.

In September Neymar, 25, was involved in an on-field spat with teammate Edinson Cavani over who was going to take a penalty kick.

As a result, there has been growing media speculation that his stint in the French capital could be a brief one.