Real Madrid will have transfer ban overturned, says Wenger

Real Madrid will have their transfer ban overturned on appeal, Arsene Wenger has predicted.

Real and city rivals Atletico Madrid have been barred from registering players for two transfer windows after the current one after FIFA found them guilty of breaching rules over the signings of international U18s.

Both clubs have indicated they will appeal, and Real director Jose Angel Sanchez has called the sanction "absolutely unjustified".

Sky Sports'  Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the bans will scupper Real's plans to overhaul their squad in the summer, when they might otherwise have listened to offers for Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

And a lack of movement at the Bernabeu would have a knock-on effect on transfers at an elite level around Europe.

But Arsenal manager Wenger said: "They will appeal, they will cancel the ban and they will be allowed to buy in the next two transfer windows. That's what will happen."

Barcelona were hit with the same penalty for a similar offense in April 2014, but the ban was delayed pending an appeal, allowing them to sign Luis Suarez and several other players that summer.