How will Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid be affected by transfer ban?

Guillem Balague thinks the ban will affect the futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were both hit with transfer bans on Thursday after breaching rules over the transfer of minors.

The ban, which comes just a few weeks after Barcelona had a transfer embargo lifted, does not cover the current January window but means both sides will be unable to register new players for the next two windows.

Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague answers some of the key questions surrounding the bans, including whether it will force either club to change their transfer plans.

Has this come as a complete surprise?

"No, Real Madrid and Atletico kind of expected this to happen and they were both preparing for it in different ways.

"Atletico have been negotiating longer contracts with some of their key stars and talking to Antoine Griezmann about increasing his buyout clause from 80 million euros to 100m.

Antoine Griezmann has been Atletico's standout player this season

"Real Madrid have been bringing in young players like Mink Peeters from Ajax, Martin Odegaard and Marco Asensio from Mallorca.

"Those players they have out on loan like Asensio, Jesus Vallejo at Real Zaragoza, Diego Llorente at Rayo Vallecano, and Lucas Silva at Marseille, can be brought back, so they may do that."

Will this mean spending sprees this month?

"They have 20 days to sign players if they really think they cannot delay the bans, but I don't think they will do that with the biggest names.

"Their hope is that they can delay it, because it took nine months from the moment that Barcelona were told about the ban to the time it started.

Balague doesn't expect Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to panic buy this January Balague doesn't expect Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to panic buy this January

"Also, because of the complexity of the cause, including appeals and taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, they think they can delay the ban and make all the signings and moves in the summer, but it's not guaranteed.

"I don't think there will be massive changes. Last year Real Madrid came out with a note saying the information they were going to be banned was wrong and badly-intentioned, but they will have to eat their words because it was good information that was leaking from FIFA that the ban was coming."

What does this mean for their future transfer plans?

"The plans of Real Madrid were very clear. They wanted to recycle the side and they would have accepted the right offers for Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"With the ban they can still sell players, but they cannot register new ones until the summer of 2017, so they are not going to sell their best stars. That means nothing will be moving there unless they delay the ban.

There has been speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo could leave next summer

"Both sides will be able to get players from the B teams but in both cases they are not full of talent. Real a bit more, but nobody really ready for the first team, so they will only be able to use them occasionally."

Will this impact Diego Simeone's future?

"In terms of the coaches, it doesn't affect them. Diego Simeone did not have the intention to leave Atletico in the summer and the plan is to take Atletico to the new stadium which will be sometime in 2017, after that maybe he will leave.

"Within the clubs they are saying they think they can get the same treatment as Barcelona, so at some point it could be announced that they might be able to sign in the summer."