5 clubs that will be relieved because of Real Madrid's transfer ban

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will be under severe pressure because of the transfer banAfter Barcelona were given a transfer ban for two windows in spite of appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is now the turn of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to go through a similar ordeal after FIFA confirmed sanctions for breaking rules when signing underage players. While the Catalan club survived and even won a treble last year, it remains to be seen if the two Madrid clubs can accomplish something similar.Although Atletico are now among the elite, they are not expected to win trophies every year. And their squad could survive two windows without a new signing. However, the same cannot be said of Real Madrid who always chase the biggest stars from top European clubs.We look at five clubs who will heave a sigh of relief, at least until the summer of 2017.

#5 Manchester City

Sergio Aguero will not be tempted to return to Madrid

Sergio Aguero was last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner with 26 goals and the 27-year-old does not show signs of slowing down in spite of persistent injuries. The Manchester City striker already ahs 10 goals in the league this season in a little over 1000 minutes of action (although five goals were scored in one game against Newcastle).

Once an Atletico Madrid player, Real have been trying to get his signature for a while now, ever since he became a tremendous success in the Premier League. With an eye on buying and retaining world class players as soon as possible before the transfer ban, Madrid have been increasingly linked with the Argentina international.

But City boss Manuel Pellegrini has told the Spanish club to forget about signing him claiming, “It will not be easy for those clubs, especially as they are always clubs that want to buy top players.

“I think this is a club that wants to be at the same level. I think that we are improving every year in achievements, in the way the club is growing, in every department.”

Of course, Pellegrini had once managed Real Madrid before he was unceremoniously sacked. So Real would be the last club he would want to sell his best player to. With the transfer ban, Aguero’s file will be locked away in Real’s basement for at least another one-and-a-half years.

#4 Paris Saint-Germain

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti will slip through Real Madrid’s fingers

With Ligue 1 becoming a bit too easy to win for Paris Saint-Germain (second placed Monaco are closer to the relegation zone than league leaders PSG), some of their players might just get the feeling that there is nothing more to win. Having won a domestic quadruple last season, the French league offers nothing more for the squad to achieve. Their sights are now firmly set on a Champions League title but that dream still feels a bit too tough to make a reality.

One of their most highly-rated players is 23-year-old central midfielder Marco Verratti. The Italian is regarded as the successor to midfield general Andrea Pirlo in the Italy national team and is already a target for most top clubs in Europe – one of which is Real Madrid.

But the player’s agent Donato Di Campli had said, “It's more likely that Marco will go to Bayern Munich one day than it is for him to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona.

“It is very unlikely that he will leave a club like PSG, who pay well. We’re negotiating his fourth contract renewal. We just need to get it all down on paper, but we’ve reached an agreement. He’s going to stay in Paris at least until 2020.”

Real Madrid were probably the only club who would have paid big money for him seeing as they are in the need of a quality central midfielder. With the transfer ban, Verratti will not be moving to Madrid any time soon.

#3 Manchester United

David De Gea’s move to Real Madrid last summer collapsed on deadline day

The story of how Real Madrid managed to mess up the transfer of David De Gea on deadline day last summer has become a joke to remember. Los Blancos’ interest in the Spanish goalkeeper was arguably one of the worst kept secrets at the end of last season and the fact that the club dilly-dallied till the final day to somehow reduce the transfer fee cost the Spanish club.

While Keylor Navas has managed to cement his place in the lineup and deliver this season, the club obviously want the future Spain no.1. With Iker Casillas gone and on the decline, Euro 2016 might be his last international tournament with De Gea set to be the outright no.1.

But after the botched transfer, De Gea has proceeded to sign a 4-year contract that extended his deal till 2018. If Real Madrid thought signing him in the summer was tough, convincing the Red Devils to sell now will be impossible without triggering the reported £45m buy-out clause.

And even if they cough up the money, De Gea must agree terms. And he has recently committed his future to the Old Trafford club. Game, set and match, United.

#2 Juventus

Pogba has committed himself to Juventus at least until the end of the season

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been a revelation since joining the Turin club in 2012. Labeled one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest mistakes, the French international has been on the rise in the past few seasons winning trophies with the club and on an individual level.

He was rewarded for his contributions to the Old Lady with the iconic no.10 shirt worn by legends such as Alessandro Del Piero. Pogba was voted the Best Young Player at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was recently picked in the 2015 FIFA FIFPro XI.

Zidane, a former Juventus man himself, will have no qualms about trying to make a move for his compatriot. But the 22-year-old is also linked with Barcelona and the Serie A club has already warned clubs to back off.

Juventus are still in the Champions League and are hot on the heels of Napoli in Serie A. The club would not want to risk a potential title-winning season by selling their most prized asset in January.

The Italian midfielder’s agent, however, had said: “All doors are open to all clubs. For now, the young man decided last summer to stay for a minimum of one year at Juventus. We should always respect the will of a player when he chooses with his heart.”

That will ensure Real Madrid have no say until the summer of 2017.

#1 Chelsea

Eden Hazard scored 19 goals for Chelsea last season but is yet to open his account this season

While Chelsea have the financial power to retain their own players, Eden Hazard is a different breed altogether. The Belgian forward had flirted with every big club possible before moving to Chelsea and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid all season with new manager Zinedine Zidane a huge admirer of the 25-year-old.

Hazard has had a poor 2015/16 season after winning the PFA Player of the Year award in the Blues’ title-winning campaign last season. He has failed to get on the scoresheet in 25 games in all competitions this season and has only 3 assists to his name. It is a fall from grace for a player who was one of the most wanted players in the world before his move to the London club.

Earlier this season, Hazard had even liked a post on Instagram that stated “According to Spanish media Eden Hazard is on Real Madrid's radar for a 2016 transfer”. Chelsea will surely be able to hold on to him for this season with the Blues still active in the FA Cup and Champions League. And they will not let him go easy with the Blues in such dire straits in the league where they are in 14th place after 22 games.