Real Madrid transfer ban: Florentino Perez rules out Cristiano Ronaldo exit and January signings

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has ruled out the club making any signings before the end of the current transfer window on 1 February, despite the possibility they may be unable to bolster their squad next summer due to a Fifa embargo. He also assured supporters that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for the long-term future, despite constant rumours linking him with either Paris Saint-Germain or an emotional return to Manchester United.

The Spanish giants, along with city rivals Atletico Madrid, were recently hit with a ban on signing any players in the next two windows – summer 2016 and January 2017 – due to irregularities regarding their dealings in underage players. Some reports suggested the club may thus feel forced into making a major Galactico addition like Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski in the current mercato in case they are unable to do so in the summer.

But Perez has claimed that the club are not going to sign anyone this window, both because they already have the best players around and because they are convinced the ban is "a mistake" and they will beat Fifa decision on appeal.

"The Fifa sanction is hurtful. It is a very serious matter to smear Real Madrid's reputation in this way. We are convinced that it is all a mistake; it is ridiculous to think that Real Madrid will be punished for a matter concerning the protection of minors when the children have always been a priority for us," Perez said during an interview to France Football.

"We are not going to be making any signings in the January window but that doesn't have anything to do with the ban, it is because we have the best players and the best coach."

Ronaldo's future at the club have been under scrutiny in recent times, especially since his dip in form this season so far. Louis van Gaal himself has admitted the player would welcomed at Old Trafford, while PSG are also said to be keen on luring him to Ligue 1.

But the Real Madrid president says that CR7 is still the best player in the world and will remain at the Bernabeu in the long-term.

"I am not surprised [about PSG's potential interest in signing] Cristiano Ronaldo, he is the best player in the world and he is the leader of Real Madrid," Perez said. "It's normal that other clubs dream of having him. He is [Alfredo] Di Stéfano's heir and he is very happy here, so he is not going to leave Real Madrid. He is the best player in the world and he has to keep playing for the best team in the world."

The president, meanwhile, also hailed the decision to appoint Zinedine Zidane as the first-team manager following the dismissal of Rafa Benitez, with the French legend having won two games and draw, one since taking over.

"[Zidane] said 'yes' immediately, without any shadow of a doubt. He was so clear in his mind that I knew there and then that Zidane was ready to take on this new and exciting challenge," he said. "Everybody here loves Zidane. Many compare his importance at the club to that of Di Stéfano. I saw Di Stéfano play and now many new generations can say: 'I saw Zidane play.'"