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Bayern Munich are the club who told Fifa about Real Madrid's illegal transfer activities, according to a speculative report in Spain.
Diario Sport claim that "Real Madrid's directors are convinced" that their Bundesliga rivals are the ones who convinced Fifa to open up an investigation into Real and Atletico Madrid's signing of young players.
The two investigations, as well as the one into Barcelona last year, came from anonymous tip-offs, the Spanish paper reports.
Los Blancos will not ne able to sign any players in the summer or next January if the ban is upheld, although the Spanish giants will appeal.
Manager Zinedine Zidane has already stated that the ban is "absurd" with two of the four players whose transfers were investigated are his sons.
Show all 9 1 /9Real Madrid January transfer targets Real Madrid January transfer targets David De Gea (Manchester United) Real came within minutes of signing the United goalkeeper in the summer, only for a delay in the completion of paperwork to halt the move. De Gea has since signed a new long-term contract with United, but as the past has shown, that means little if a club is determined to get their man. Real were expected to renew their pursuit of the Spanish No 1 in the summer, and could now put together an emergency move for De Gea in order to take him back to Spain. De Gea has told United he wants to stay at Old Trafford - even if Real come calling.
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Real Madrid January transfer targets Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Hazard looks a shadow of his former self at Stamford Bridge this season and is yet to notch a single goal for the Blues. With speculation linking him with a move to Real, possibly to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, he could well have been the big signing that the Spanish club like to complete every summer. A new challenge may prove beneficial for Hazard, but Chelsea now hold all the bargaining power if Real come calling.
2015 Getty Images
Real Madrid January transfer targets Harry Kane (Tottenham) Kane rejected any chance of leaving Tottenham in the current transfer window following the FA Cup draw with Leicester at the weekend, but the opportunity to join Real Madrid doesn’t come around too often. If the interest in Kane proves true, they could move for the England striker in the next fortnight, although you can guarantee Daniel Levy will not make it a cheap one.
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Real Madrid January transfer targets Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) The Brazil defender has impressed in his time at PSG alongside Thiago Silva and David Luiz, but he is yet to tie down a regular starting spot in the centre of the defence and he has been linked with a move to Real as a result. With question marks over Pepe’s longevity, Marquinhos would prove to be a fantastic addition given he is just 21 years old.
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Real Madrid January transfer targets Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) As the Independent revealed earlier this month, Lewandowski is not entirely happy at Bayern and could look to leave in the summer along with Pep Guardiola’s departure. The striker has previously spoken of his desire to play for Real Madrid as some point in his career, and with his agent Cezary Kucharsky spotted at the Bernabeu this season, a future move to Spain always appeared on the cards. At 27 years old, Real may want to get him now, rather than wait until he is 29.
Real Madrid January transfer targets Leroy Sane (Schalke) Sane has been heavily linked with Manchester City, although both Real and Barcelona are also in the hunt for the highly-rated Germany international. With Schalke denying that a release clause in his contract is active, Real could look to try and beat their rivals to his signing, although reports of a £27.8m bid from the Catalans will be cause for concern.
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Real Madrid January transfer targets John Stones (Everton) England’s emerging centre-back has caught the eye in his two-and-a-half years in the Everton side, leading to speculation that he is wanted by the top clubs in Spain. The 21-year-old appears to have a bright future ahead of him, though the lure of Real would certainly test the player’s loyalty to the Toffees after he handed in a transfer request in the summer when Chelsea came calling.
Real Madrid January transfer targets Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) Arsenal’s influential forward has been linked with a move back to Spain, two years after he completed a £35m move from Barcelona. The Chile international has been one of the standout players in the Premier League since his arrival, and would fill Real’s problem position on the right wing that currently no one wants to play in
2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Real Madrid January transfer targets Paul Pogba (Juventus The most sought-after midfielder last summer, Pogba remained at Juventus and has continued his impressive form to help the reigning Italian champions climb up the Serie A table after a poor start to the season. He looks certain to leave Juventus at some point in the next two years though, and with Real and Barcelona interested along with Premier League suitors, he has a wealth of options to choose from. In the knowledge that they could be unable to move for Pogba for the best part of 18 months, Real could trigger a bidding war this month to land the Frenchman.
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Zidane said he didn't know how they were involved as he's "spent all my life in Madrid with my family, with my sons."
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