This week’s return of head coach Zinedine Zidane has decreased the chances of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar ending up at Real Madrid, according to reports.

Neymar, 27, has been continuously linked with a switch to Santiago Bernabeu since August 2017’s world-record €222 million move from Barcelona to the Ligue 1 giants was finalised. This talk has ratcheted up during a woeful 2018/19 for Los Blancos, in which a glaring need for a squad revamp has been made apparent.

AS, however, has stated that a number of factors are now working against a blockbuster comeback to La Liga being secured.

Zidane is wary of the media circus that surrounds the Brazil forward – who netted 105 times in 186 matches for Barca from 2013-17 – and is skeptical about him buying into the team ethos.

Brazilian teenager sensation Vinicius Junior, 18, also now operates on the left of attack where Neymar would play if signed, plus his PSG colleague Kylian Mbappe, 20, is seen as a superior potential addition.