Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes his old club is serious about signing PSG star Neymar.

Calderon says Real president Florentino Perez is seriously testing the ground of selling Cristiano Ronaldo and replacing him with Neymar.

He told Le Parisien: "When the news of this type comes to light in the newspapers, the club is interested to see the reaction of the people. He wants to know what they think about the arrival of Neymar and the consequent departure of Cristiano.

"No, it's not just fun. If Real Madrid has allowed this information to leak, it is because they know that the signing can be done. I think Madrid must know that Neymar has a release clause, that they can pay it and that the player is interested in the idea of coming.

"It is also a way to put pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo and encourage him to leave. I am convinced that it is an operation that is in the president's head and that his idea is for Cristiano to leave and that the money he will theoretically recover from his transfer will allow him to pay for such an exceptional player as Neymar."