It’s official, Real Madrid have been banned from making transfers for the next two transfer windows. The punishment has been handed down for their role in signing and registering minor players.
Along with the ban came a hefty fine of 249,000 pounds for Los Blancos.
On the surface it appears that this stonewalls any transfers, including the recent rumor headlines ones for David De Gea, Gareth Bale, Sergio Aguero, or even Cristiano Ronaldo.
But if we’ve learned anything from Barcelona and how they handled their year long ban, there’s hope.

Firstly, the ban does not affect Real’s January transfer window so they have a tight 17 days to ship out or sign on anyone they may have a fancy for. Meaning if they’re going to get rid of Ronaldo or Bale to bring in Sergio Aguero, it’s going to have to happen before January is out. Otherwise they won’t be able to bring in a talent near equivalent enough for a long time.
Further, the ban doesn’t technically mean that you can’t ‘sign’ players.

Just ask Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, who were purchased by Barcelona in the Summer of 2015. The Catalan club simply didn’t play them until this transfer window when their ban was lifted.

Now is that realistic for most teams? No, but Real has plenty of funds and talent in order to make that a viable strategy if they are absolutely determined to sign a particular player.
According to BBC Sport,
“On the face of it, it leaves the Spanish superpower in a state of flux, with new coach Zinedine Zidane only able to promote from within.”
“Quite handy, therefore, they have secured 19-year-old Marco Asensio (currently on loan at Espanyol) from Mallorca, Jesus Vallejo, 19, who has returned to Real Zaragoza on loan and 17-year-old Norwegian Martin Odegaard from Stromsgodset.”
And if none of that works?
No problem, Real Madrid still have the chance to appeal the sanction which delays its implementation, not that their appeals have gone particularly well, but Barcelona did it in 2014 and used the added time to add Luis Suarez from Liverpool to the team.

Do you think Real Madrid will make a major move in January? Who is more likely to go, Bale or Ronaldo? Who do you think is most likely to sign them on? Leave it in the comments!
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