Real Madrid can rest easy, if Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows his stuff.
Madrid's two-window transfer ban, perhaps the most momentous development of the January window, and all the massive accompanying implications will be for not, believes Wenger. Speaking at his press conference on Friday ahead of Arsenal's Premier League contest against Stoke City this weekend, the Frenchman said Madrid "will appeal" and Fifa "will cancel the ban".
Madrid were expected to be the major gravitational force in the summer, with their movements anticipated to affect the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, David de Gea and others. But the ban, should it stand, would throw any planning into disarray and inject a volatile uncertainty into the global football market.
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However unlike Barcelona, who lost their appeal and sat out both 2015 transfer windows, Wenger says Real Madrid will be open for regular business.
“They will appeal, they will cancel the ban and they will be allowed to buy in the next two transfer windows,” he said.
He added confidently: “That’s what will happen.”
Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid were hit with the same punishment for apparently violating "provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration" of under 18 players.
Wenger dismissed the idea, though, that the clubs would turn the market on its head by stockpiling talent in the next couple weeks, emulating Barca when they signed Luis Suarez ahead of their ban. “Straight away they will appeal,” he said.
Real Madrid’s general director Jose Angel Sanchez has promised the club will “use all routes of appeal” to fight the “absurd” ban.
The Primera Liga, meanwhile, appeared to criticise Fifa on Friday as it said that it will "denounce to the appropriate bodies the current part of the [Fifa] regulation for the transfer of players under age which does not conform to the law of the protection of minors," reported the Associated Press.
The Spanish top flight said that Fifa’s regulations do not “really protect the child”.
Also see: The National's Transfer Talk page
Manchester City
Manchester City have made their first January signing with the capture of midfielder Anthony Caceres from Central Coast Mariners for an undisclosed fee.
The Australian club announced on Friday morning that a fee had been agreed with City for the 23-year-old and a club spokesman confirmed the completion of the deal to Press Association Sport.
Caceres is not seen as a player who could challenge for a first-team spot any time soon and he could well be loaned out.
Mariners head coach Tony Walmsley signed Caceres in 2011, and he told the club website: “We need to celebrate when players at the Central Coast Mariners are sold to bigger clubs. It’s our charter. It’s our intent.
“When I brought Anthony Caceres to the Mariners his potential was obvious.
“This move demonstrates how far Anthony has progressed and symbolises how giving youth a chance works for both the Central Coast Mariners and young aspirational footballers.”
An obvious destination for Caceres would be City’s A-League sister club Melbourne City.
The league does not allow clubs to buy players from each other, but a loan from Manchester City would be allowed.
Melbourne manager John van’t Schip was coy on any loan move, with the Dutchman quoted in the Australian press saying: “Manchester City is getting him in. More or less, that’s it.
“We can’t comment on [a potential loan move] but of course everybody knows he’s a good player, he’s one of the better players in the A-League. So we’ll just have to see.”
*Press Association
Everton
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Everton have made an approach for Leeds United defender Sam Byram.
The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and it was reported on Thursday that Everton have had a fee worth up to £5 million (Dh26.3m) accepted by Leeds.
Byram is a long-term option which could provide a short-term fix with Seamus Coleman out injured, but Martinez pointed out that any potential deal is still a long way off.
“There has been an approach. There is nothing else to comment on. You have to careful,” he said. “From there to conclusive news is a long gap.”
*Press Association
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo are close to completing the signing of experienced Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz from Bundesliga side Hamburg, the Primera Liga club said.
Diaz, 29, who had a stint at Swiss side FC Basel before joining Hamburg in February last year, arrived in Vigo on Thursday for a medical and to work out the final details of the deal, Celta said on their website.
*Reuters
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