Blatter urges Barcelona to accept their transfer ban

The prospect of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez moving to the Premier League has been dealt a blow after FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged Barcelona to accept their transfer ban.

Last April the Catalan giants were handed the punishment after they were found guilty of repeatedly breaking transfer regulations.

Barcelona have since appealed to get the decision overturned, but their efforts were dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning they cannot sign anyone in 2015.

"I want to talk to the representative of Barcelona to find a possible solution," Blatter told television station RTVE.

He added: "A great club like Barcelona should be an example to the world.

"What is important in football is to accept decisions about because in football you learn to win, but also learn to lose."

Blatter's words have reduced the chances of Barcelona cashing in on their talisman Messi or Suarez, as they will not be able reinvest the cash back into the squad.

The Argentinian superstar sent the transfer rumour mill into overdrive after he followed Chelsea and a few of their players on social media, which sparked speculation of an exit.

While Suarez has struggled to hit the ground running since his return from his lengthy ban, which has linked him with a move to Liverpool, where he scored 33 goals in 39 appearances.