Real Madrid also facing transfer ban over signing of underage players

Real Madrid could face a transfer ban, similar to the one imposed on Barcelona, after Fifa opened an investigation into the deals involving under-age players, according to reports in Spain.

The investigation is centred on the signing of two 12-year-olds, Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macias, brought from Venezuela in 2012 via Miguel Angel Coira, an ex-Argentinian footballer who now resides in Spain and has a football school for young players in Madrid.

The club have since terminated their relationship with Godoy as well as with Coira, who is now with Rayo Vallecano.

Fifa are investigating whether or not Real have complied with their regulations regarding the transfer of those under the age of 18.

The rule states that players can only be signed from outside the European Union if their parents have been forced to move to the country where the club is for non-football reasons, unless the club has made them available for transfer.

Madrid, who have signed Brazilian defender Lucas Silva as well as teenage Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard during the January transfer window, were contacted on December 14th about this and were given a month to respond.