Madrid tell Platini to get Real

Real Madrid have hit out at Uefa president Michel Platini for suggesting the Ballon d’Or should go to a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was awarded the accolade in 2013 and is favourite for the honour after helping Real to a 10th European title, with four-time former winner Lionel Messi also in contention after another fine season for Barcelona and having helped Argentina to the World Cup final.

Platini said earlier this week, though, the winner should be “a world champion” — Mario Goetze, Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Bastian Schweinsteiger have been shortlisted from Germany — and that has not gone down well in Madrid. A statement from the European champions yesterday read: “In view of the declarations made by Michel Platini concerning the winner of the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid CF would like to outline: