Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has intensified negotiations for Santos star Neymar in recent days. El Confidencial says Florentino, aware of the presence of high-ranking Barcelona officials in Brazil last week, has sought to open new communication lines for the star attacker.

Barca president Sandro Rosell is aiming to trump Real for Neymar before the winter market opens in January.

It's now emerged that Florentino has made contact with powerbrokers at the Bank of Santander, which have a say in the ownership and image rights of Neymar. A meeting was recently held, where it's claimed Florentino urged the Bank's reps to halt negotiations with Barca.