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

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.”