Manchester United Blamed By Real Madrid As David De Gea Deal Collapses
Real Madrid have pointed the finger at Manchester United following the collapse of the deal to take David de Gea to the Bernabeu.
De Gea will be staying at United after Real Madrid decided not to appeal to La Liga – and then issued a statement in which they laid out their version of events, blaming United for the breakdown of the move.
A £29.5m deal – with Real keeper Keylor Navas moving in the opposite direction – was agreed on Monday only to founder at the last minute due to an administrative hitch.
It initially seemed the deal had simply stalled after documents were received 28 minutes after the Spanish transfer deadline at midnight on Monday.
But Sky Sports News HQ consequently learned from Spanish league officials they did not receive any paperwork from Real over the transfer – something contested by the Spanish club.
United insist they signed and sent all relevant documentation on time and that they have the evidence to prove it but Real have now released a 10-point statement which seeks to clarify their version of events.
In the statement, Real claim United did not open negotiations until Monday morning – although they say an agreement was reached and contracts exchanged by 12.39pm (BST).
They go on to say United sent amendments to the contracts some eight hours later and that “all changes were accepted immediately by Real Madrid” before the signed documents were sent back to Manchester at 10.32pm.
According to Real, United reached agreement with Keylor Navas’ representatives at 10.53pm and then entered the TMS (FIFA Transfer Matching System) data for De Gea – but not those of Navas – at 11pm (the midnight transfer deadline in Spain).
Real say they received the full documentation at 11.02pm but found the TMS was already closed before, at 11.26pm they were invited to add De Gea’s details by the TMS because England’s transfer window was not due to close until Tuesday.
They then decided to send the contracts to the Spanish league in case there was still time to get the deal done.
The statement finishes by saying “in short, Real Madrid have done everything they could at all times for deal to take place.”
De Gea timeline
Here is how the David de Gea transfer saga played out, according to Real Madrid…
1. Man Utd agreed to start negotiations yesterday (Monday).
2. Real Madrid initiated conversation.
3. Man Utd would only do deal if it included Navas.
4. Both clubs agree deal and Madrid send documents to Man Utd at 12.39pm (BST).
5. United replied at 8.39pm asking for some changes, which Madrid agree to immediately.
6. Madrid send contracts to Man Utd at 10.32pm and wait for Man Utd to send them back signed.
7. Man Utd agree deal with Navas at 10.53pm, and then contract sent to Navas to sign.
8. Man Utd logged in on TMS to log details of De Gea deal, not Navas, at 11pm (deadline point in Spain) and simultaneously send contracts to Madrid. Madrid receive documents at 11.02pm and tries to access TMS but is closed down.
9. 11.26pm – TMS invites Madrid to introduce details of De Gea because the transfer deadline is next day. Madrid, in case there was room to complete a deal, decide to send contracts to league even though they know the deadline has passed.
10. Madrid have done everything they could at all times for deal to take place.
SKYSPORTS