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Real Madrid concede defeat, blame United for De Gea collapse

Tom Adams

Updated 01/09/2015 at 12:54 GMT

Real Madrid will not try and pursue their deal for David De Gea any longer and have blamed Manchester United after his move collapsed.

Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea

Image credit: PA Sport

Madrid thought they had captured their big summer target when striking a deal worth around £25 million with United to sign De Gea on Monday, the Spanish transfer deadline.
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But the necessary papers were not filed on time, with both clubs held to be responsible for the failure to get the deal over the line.
It was initially thought that Madrid would appeal to either the Spanish league, which said it had not received any paperwork, or FIFA, which regulates international transfers, in an attempt to push the signing through.
But now Madrid have confirmed that no appeal will take place - squarely blaming United for the deal collapsing.
A lengthy statement from the Spanish giants stated:
  • Manchester United didn't open any path of negotiation for the registration rights to David De Gea until yesterday morning.
  • Real Madrid, despite the difficulties associated with completing a deal of this type on the final day of registration, accepted the initiating of these conversations.
  • When Manchester United entered into these negotiations yesterday morning they did so subject to being able to reach an agreement with Real Madrid player Keylor Navas, in order that he would join the British club from this season, and informed that they were in contact with the representatives of said player.
  • Real Madrid and Manchester United arrived quickly at an agreement for the transfers of both players. After the editing of the relevant contractual documents and with the intention of proceeding with enough time to get everything sent to the Transfer Matching System of FIFA (TMS) as well as his registration with the Spanish Football League (LFP), Real Madrid resent the contracts to Manchester United at 13:39 Spanish time.
  • Manchester United sent back their comments on said contracts eight hours later, at 21:43 Spanish time, including small modifications. Due to not being relevant, all of the modifications were accepted immediately by Real Madrid with the intention of being able to register the player on time in the TMS and with the LFP.
  • Real Madrid, having obtained the signatures of David De Gea and Keylor Navas, sent back to the English club the signed contracts at 23:32 Spanish time, waiting to receive the final documents signed by Manchester United.
  • Manchester United reached a final agreement with the representatives of Keylor Navas at 23:53 Spanish time and it was at this time that the contracts were sent to the player to be signed.
  • Manchester United entered into the TMS all the information for the De Gea deal, but not those for Keylor Navas, at 00:00 Spanish time, sending back to Real Madrid at the same time the signed transfer contracts. Real Madrid received the completed documentation at 00:02 and tried to access the TMS, but found it to already be closed.
  • At 00:26 Spanish time the FIFA computer system, TMS, invited Real Madrid to fill in the details for David De Gea, given that the registration period in England continues to be open until today. Real Madrid, with the prospect of some contention over the transfer of the player, decided to send the contracts to the LFP, even knowing that the period had expired.
  • Definitively, Real Madrid had done everything necessary, at all times, to ensure that these two transfers happened.
picture

DE Gea

Image credit: AFP

Madrid had been linked with De Gea for the duration of the summer and their interest in the Spain international convinced Louis van Gaal to drop him from his team as he feared his player's focus has been disrupted.
But De Gea will now return to Manchester having flown to Madrid to complete his move to the Bernabeu, and fight to reclaim his place from Sergio Romero.

OUR VIEW

You have to feel for Madrid - anyone whose computer has ever crashed will understand the acute frustration felt when technology lets you down - but their complaints fall down on the fact that they could and should have pursued De Gea far more aggressively before the final day of their transfer window. Why leave it to such chance? No one comes out of this particularly well, but Madrid only have themselves to blame.
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