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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid general director Jose Angel Sanchez has said that FIFA’s claims over Los Blancos breaking the transfer rules for underage players are “absurd.”

Sanchez and Javier Lopez, the director of Legal Services at Real Madrid, gave a press conference after FIFA announced a one-year transfer ban on Los Blancos and their city rivals Atletico de Madrid.

“FIFA’s claims are so wrong that they absurdly sanction us for the signings of sons of the first team manager. Zidane. It is so wrong, that leads to such absurd situation, like that of Ezequiel Garay’s brother. I assure you all the other cases they are sanctioning the club for are exactly the same,” Sanchez claimed.

Real Madrid announced they are going to appeal this decision and Sanchez believes it will go through: “We are confident the appeal will be successful,” he said.

Asked about how this is going to affect Los Blancos transfers strategy, Sanchez admitted “this has been so unexpected that we haven’t even considered that.” “It appears FIFA made this decision back in July, but we were not warned,” he explained.

Sanchez confessed the image of the club has been “seriously” damaged. “However, it is so unbelievable the way they’ve sanctioned us, that we think it will have no consequences. We respect the values of childhood and have refused to sign underage players in order to respect the regulations,” he added.

Asked about the similarities with Barcelona’s ban, Sanchez said that Real Madrid’s case “is different.” “We acted correctly, as the documents prove, and this is a mistake. That is why there are authorities that can revoke it,” he concluded.

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Former Real Madrid left back Roberto Carlos is set to meet Zinedine Zidane and the club’s directors over a possible return.

The exact role is unclear although the Brazilian admitted last week that he had been in discussions with the Santiago Bernabeu outfit about a return in some capacity.

Speaking to Punto Pelota last week, the ex-defender suggested the role would not be as sporting director but one in Zidane’s coaching set up. However, the new boss reportedly feels he already has his staff in place and is not looking to add anyone else for the moment, complicating matters for Carlos.

The 42-year-old made 500 appearances for Los Blancos as a player before leaving in 2007. He enjoyed huge success in his time in Spain, lifting three Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. He also Spanish Supercopa three times as well as the Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup.

Since retiring as a player, Carlos has had a number of stints in charge of various clubs but with limited success to date. He has been in charge of Anzhi Makhachkala, Sivasspor, Akhisar Belediyespor and Delhi Dyanamos.

He is one of Brazil’s most capped players have featured 125 times for his country.

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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Real Madrid have issued an official statement regarding the one-year transfer ban received. Read it here:

Real Madrid C. F. has today received the decision from the FIFA disciplinary committee, dated 23th July 2015, sanctioning the club with a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods as well as fining the club 360,000 Swiss francs.

According to the decision, Real Madrid CF has been sanctioned for:

1.- Playing foreign players, under 18 years of age without being appropriately registered with the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (Spanish Football Federation): Absolutely untrue. All the players that play or have played in the youth teams in our club are and have been registered with the RFEF with prior notice before entering the field of play, as certified by the Spanish Football Federation to FIFA by means of a correspondence dated 17th April 2015, as the files show.

2.- Incorporating foreign players under the age of 18 years old, either for their first registration in Spain or through transfers from other foreign clubs, without fulfilling the regulatory requirements: Equally untrue. Real Madrid C. F. has always complied with FIFA regulation:

-With regards to players older than 12 years of age and younger than 18, has always complied with FIFA regulation requesting that the RFEF process (as they did) the corresponding authorisation from the FIFA Players’ Status Committee.

-With regards to the players under 12 years of age, the RFEF (the only FIFA representative in Spain) established and communicated to Real Madrid C. F. (email dated 10th March 2014) that in relation to these players, they don’t need a separate process to that of a Spanish under age player, which was ratified by FIFA to the RFEF by fax on 17th Aril 2014.

3.- Not communicating to the RFEF the players that play in the youth teams as FIFA considers that these teams are the equivalent to an academy: Also untrue. Although it is considered that the combined Real Madrid C. F. youth teams consist of an academy, despite not being independent legal entities, Real Madrid C. F. has always notified the RFEF the players who are registered in these teams, as can be proven by the fact that each and every one of them have the corresponding federative licenses, as stated in the document certified by the federation dated 8th April 2015.

As a result, Real Madrid C. F. will appeal this decision of FIFA in all the sporting incidents, considering them absolutely inappropriate.

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Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been handed a one-year transfer ban by FIFA after breaching rules on signing underage athletes. Los Blancos will not be allowed to bring new players during the summer of 2016 and the winter transfer market of 2017.

That would surely be a huge problem for any other club. Although being unable to reinforce the squad is surely something Florentino Perez doesn’t want to face, he shouldn’t become excessively alarmed.

Here are a few reasons why the transfer ban won’t be as harmful for Real Madrid as many expect:

1. The appeal will be taken into account

Real Madrid will be able to sign new players next summer. That’s 90 per cent sure. As it happened with Barcelona, Los Blancos appeal will cause that the ban will be put on hold until the sentence is firm. Thus, Real will have a few months to prepare themselves for the ban until the case is solved. There might be no time to bring any big stars in the current winter transfer market, but in the summer Perez will surely have the chance to hire some of the world-class players he is pursuing: Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba, and Robert Lewandowski among others.

2. Loaned players can return to the club

The ban does not affect loaned players, who are allowed to return to Real Madrid and could help reinforce the squad. Los Blancos have eight footballers they could bring back: Marco Asensio, Diego Llorente, Fabio Coentrao, Lucas Silva, Omar Mascarell, Alvaro Medran, Burgui, and Jesus Vallejo. There is plenty of potential there. For instance, that list includes two of the most promising European centre-backs, Vallejo and Llorente, who could be ready to make their first team debut as soon as needed. If Madrid fail to sign a left-back who would give Marcelo some rest, they can always recover Coentrao, who is having an impressive season at AS Monaco. And although Isco is already in the squad, fans will be happy to know the next Isco is also available: Asensio, a player who will surely leave his mark in the club.

3. Many stars of the future are already at Real Madrid

In the past few months, Florentino Perez, perhaps knowing that the ban could happen, has focussed on signing talented teenagers who are destined to become the stars of the future. Thus, there might be not such a need for signings in 2017, because those players are already here. Apart from Marco Asensio and Jesus Vallejo, Los Merengues have also signed Martin Odegaard. And the future of the forward line is also guaranteed with Real Madrid Castilla’s Borja Mayoral and Mariano. Uruguayan 17-year-old Federico Valverde could also be called from Penarol if necessary.

4. Current players are still young

It is undeniable that Real Madrid current squad is very difficult to improve, such is the talent of the players. Should they all stay at the club, there is no reason why 2017 could not be successful for Los Blancos despite the ban. There are only four players in their 30s: Pepe, Alvaro Arbeloa, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo. The first two are easily replaceable. Modric has recently turned 30, and given his current state of form, it seems like he could play this good until he turns 32. In Ronaldo’s case, it could be just a matter of turning him into a pure number 9, and he would surely keep scoring goals. And if he decides to leave, as already mentioned, the appeal could give Perez enough time to sign Ronaldo’s successor.

In conclusion: Real Madrid fans, do not panic! Barcelona were banned as well and they ended up conquering five titles last season. We could do even better and win all six. Hala Madrid!

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A number of Premier League sides are preparing to do battle for the signature of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, according to reports.

Many UK media outlets, picking up on a report originating on Fichajes.net, say Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are all interested in the German World Cup winner.

Kroos had a sensational opening season at the Santiago Bernabeu after joining in the summer of 2014 from Bayern Munich. He helped the club to success in the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup and established himself as one of the key members of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

But following a change in manager in the summer, Kroos fell out of favour with Rafa Benitez and also saw his form dip this season. This has resulted in the 26-year-old to be linked with a switch away from the Spanish capital.

As well as the host of English clubs chasing him, French outfit PSG are also claimed to another interested party.

Anyone serious about trying to secure the midfielder’s signature would be looking at spending upwards of 50 million euros. A potential transfer could also be complicated with news of Real’s two-transfer-window ban, meaning they can not sign anyone until the end of the 2016-17 season.

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Real Madrid and city rivals Atletico de Madrid have been handed transfer bans preventing them from registering any players for the next two transfer windows – effectively meaning they can not sign anyone the end of the 2016-17 season.

FIFA announced the severe punishment, similar to the one dished out to Barcelona which ended this month, for violating rules surrounding the signing of players from overseas under the age of 18.

A ban had been mooted for some time with suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter telling El Mundo Deportivo last month that the punishment would be similar to the one Barcelona had faced.

Los Blancos last year denied signing 25 Chinese youngsters under the age of 14 to live in Spain and develop as footballers. A report in AS last year revealed the number of young overseas players at Spanish clubs – with Aletico believed to have 43 youth players in its academy coming from 26 countries.

A statement from FIFA read: “Both clubs are to serve a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players at national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods for breaching articles 5, 9, 19 and 19bis as well as annexes 2 and 3 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (the ‘Regulations’).

“The transfer ban, which does not affect the current registration period at all, given that it opened before the decisions were notified, applies to each club as a whole — with the exception of the women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams — and does not prevent the release of players.”

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Real Madrid want to beat rivals Barcelona to the signing of France midfielder Paul Pogba, according to reports.

Madrid-based daily, AS, says new boss Zinedine Zidane is a known admirer of the Juventus playmaker and had identified him as his first major transfer target.

The 22-year-old was earlier this week named in the FIFAPro World Eleven after an outstanding 2015 in which he helped the Old Lady to the Italian title and cup as well as the final of the Champions League, where they lost out to Barcelona.

Making the switch from Juve to the Santiago Bernabeu would be following in the footsteps of Zidane, who made the same journey 15 years ago and went on to establish himself as one of the greatest ever players to appear for the club.

The reports say that any transfer would cost upwards of 85 million euros while Los Blancos would face competition from Barcelona for his signature. Big spenders PSG are also believed to be keen on Pogba’s signature and would have no problem coming up with the cash to sign him.

Pogba, who joined Juventus from Manchester United after growing frustrated with life at Old Trafford has scored 24 goals in 107 league appearances for his club.

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Cristiano Ronaldo missed out to Leo Messi on Monday in the Ballon d’Or with the Barcelona man winning the prize for the fifth time in his career.

Since then, Ronaldo has said he wants to keep on winning trophies, scoring goals and will be back stronger than ever next year.

But the Real Madrid man turns 31 next month. There’s clearly a lot of time left in the game for him but can he really improve? And with rumours of a move to PSG or the MLS, what does the future hold for the Portuguese superstar?

Realmadridnews.com takes a look at some of his options.

1 – Stay at Real Madrid.
Ronaldo still has two years to run on his current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu and there are no signs the club will look to sell him. Given that he is Real’s all-time leading goalscorer, it would be highly unlikely Los Blancos would consider selling him, even though they know that this summer is probably the last chance they can command a huge fee for him. More likely is that he will be allowed to set his departure on his terms much like Raul did when he left.

Los Blancos are more likely than not to pick up silverware in the next two years so staying at the club will mean more trophies to add to his cabinet, and who knows, a return to pick up the Ballon d’Or again?

One thing to Ronaldo should consider though is the emergence of Gareth Bale. The Welshman is five years younger and looks set all but set to take Ronaldo’s place as the top man at Real Madrid. He netted four against Rayo and followed that up with a hat trick at the weekend against Deportivo La Coruña. Ronaldo may need to get used to not being the central figure much longer.

2 – Move to PSG
Ronaldo has one last big move in him – and if he wants it, this summer would be the best time. All the signs suggest that if he does leave the Santiago Bernabeu, Paris would be his new destination.

The striker has hinted in the past about a move to the French capital. When asked about which city he prefers between Madrid and Paris recently, Ronaldo opted for the Spanish capital. But he said his opinions could change in the future. The Portugal captain is also close to PSG boss Laurent Blanc and the club’s owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Moreover, the club could be on the lookout for a new superstar to lead their attack in the summer. Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t getting any young at 34 is he?

3 – Return to Manchester United
Ronaldo is still adored by the United faithful and has made no secret of his love for the club. He was a key part of the United side that won three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy in his six years at Old Trafford and would be welcome back with open arms.

But things are different at the club now. Gone is Sir Alex Ferguson and gone too, for now anyway, is the Manchester United that playing brilliant, attacking football. A host of world class players have left and the current crop aren’t quite up to scratch.

It’s uncertain whether Louis van Gaal will be in charge come next season and Ronaldo may not want to taint his reputation there by going back and not living up to his past.

4 – Move to the MLS
He loves the US as a holiday destination to get away from the attention from European fans and it’s not hard to imagine moving Stateside to end his career. This summer is probably too soon for it to happen but we wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years Ronaldo follows in the footsteps of David Beckham, Kaka and Raul in ending his career in the MLS.

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Former Spurs and QPR manager Harry Redknapp believes new Real Madrid boss can have a similar impact at the club compared to Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool 20 years 30 years ago.

Zidane is a legend at the 10-time Champions League winners thanks to a stellar playing career at the Santiago Bernabeu. Since hanging up his boots, the Frenchman has worked as assistant manager in the first team set up and manager of the Real Madrid Castilla side.

The 43-year-old was promoted last week following the sacking of Rafa Benitez, who lasted just seven months in the job.

In 1985, Dalglish, already a crown favourite at Anfield,became player-manager before taking on the manager role after retiring and lead the club to huge success despite his relative inexperience at the time.

Speaking to Paolo di Canio, Redknapp said: “It’s a little bit like Kenny Dalglish. Kenny finished playing at Liverpool. When he finished playing he was player-manager for one year before he became manager. And he did a fantastic job at Liverpool. Zidane has a big chance.

“He’s been working with the B team, he was a fantastic player, he has great players to go and work with so I don’t see any reason why he can’t do a great job there. When you have Bale, Ronaldo, Modric, Benzema and all these top players I don’t think it’s so difficult for him. They would respect him so I’m sure he has a great chance to do well.”

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Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a bid to sign AS Roma wonderkid Mirko Antonucci, according to Spanish press.

The 16-year-old has recently made his debut for the Italian side, proving that he is talented young player with a bright future ahead.

Manchester United and Liverpool have also shown an interest in signing the new Italian pearl. His contract expires in June 2017, so Roma could be willing to sell him for a reasonable amount next summer rather than seeing flee for free one year later.

In the past few months, Real Madrid have been trying to gather the most talented teenagers in Europe, as a strategy to grow quality players instead of spending dozens of millions in bringing them when they are older.

Los Blancos would like Antonucci to join Real Madrid Castilla, where he would be able to keep growing as a player. Yet, it seems unlikely that the player would agree unless the team gets promoted to the Spanish second division this season.

Antonucci is a versatile striker of great quality. Los Merengues might have a chance to face him soon, as they are to take on Roma in the last-16 round of the Champions League.

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