Florentino Perez kept Sergio Busquets off Ballon d'Or shortlist

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's pressure meant that Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets didn't appear on the list for the Ballon d'Or.

Since January 2012, Perez has been a member of the committee in charge of deciding which 23 players make the shortlist for the coveted prize.

He is the only Spaniard on the committee and also the only club president.

And it seems his role on the said committee is to move pieces around in a bid to try and maximise Madrid's presence on the list... while also minimising Barça's. 

This is what occurred last year, anyway, when Perez made sure Busquets wasn't granted a place on the 23-man list which was made public in October, as reported by 'Superdeporte'.

Madrid's president insisted to the other members of the committee that Busquets did not deserve to be included.

Among other reasons, he cited his behaviour in the Clasico.