Reports: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to be handed transfer bans

Madrid-based clubs, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, face transfer bans similar to the one received by fellow La Liga giants Barcelona, who were banned from signing players in 2015. The reported ban will be imposed on the two clubs for violating rules regarding signing of youth players.

According to a report by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the Madrid clubs’ transfer bans would come into immediate effect, preventing the duo from signing players for 2 windows – the upcoming summer and the mid-season winter transfer windows.

However, just like Barcelona did, Real and Atletico could possibly delay the ban by appealing. This would enable them to sign players to prepare for the upcoming windows when they would be restricted from buying players.

Atletico have, reportedly, already received a notification by FIFA about their punishment and their derby rivals would be receiving one soon.

However, the flaw in the ban is that it is technically just a registration ban, which means that the clubs can still buy players and loan them out without registering them in their squad.

If the ban does come into effect, it would be fair to assume both the clubs would appeal against it despite knowing they would most likely lose the appeal. What the appeal would help them do is delay the ban and allow them to sign players for another window.

This would signal a massive influx of players into the Spanish capital with Real Madrid already tracking a few players like Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.