Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is monitoring developments at Barcelona involving Lionel Messi. Catalonia's Sport says Perez has been watching closely the deteriorating relationship between Messi, his family and the Barca board.

It's claimed the relationship has never been so strained and Perez is seriously weighing up a move for the Argentine.

Real have the spending power to match the €250 million it would take to prise Messi away from Barca - and would be clear to do so by UEFA's financial fair play laws without any major sale. However, convincing Messi to tread the same path of Luis Figo is another matter.

Nevertheless, even Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on board at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday, claiming he'd "love to play" with Messi in the same team and admitting he was his son's "favourite player".