Join us and you’ll win Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid president tells Neymar

Fri, Dec 8, 2017 | By publisher


Sports

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 team mate 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. – Vanguard

Dec 8, 2017 @ 18:13 GMT |

Tags:


Man Utd keen on Ait-Nouri – Tuesday’s gossip

MANCHESTER United are keen on Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, but face competition for Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku, Newcastle may need...

Read More
Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut

JACOB Bethell will bat at number three on his Test debut in England’s series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch...

Read More
‘As open as it has ever been’ – is this the tightest Premier League?

AFTER helping West Ham to a stunning 2-0 win at Newcastle on Monday, Jarrod Bowen’s words summed up England’s top flight perfectly....

Read More