David De Gea’s heavily anticipated transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid has completely collapsed according to expert Football journalist Guillem Balague. Both teams agreed to a cash plus swap deal which involved a fee of €29million plus Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, however the necessary paperwork that was required for the transfer missed the deadline. Both keepers will remain at their clubs and it looks as if the soonest that the two teams can get a deal done will be in January.
De Gea has been the focus of a transfer saga that has lasted throughout the summer transfer window, it was believed by many sources that the Spanish international had agreed personal terms with the Madrid club and the biggest stumbling block was the compensation that Manchester United were to receive.
Earlier this summer, United were chasing the signature of the then wantaway defender Sergio Ramos and they believed that they could engineer a deal that would see Ramos and De Gea swap directions. After a series of talks, Ramos changed his mind and signed a new bumper contract with Real Madrid, which served to harden the Red Devil’s stance on the transfer. It was believed that the goalkeeper wanted the deal concluded very quickly, however the talks stalled and he found himself included in Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the US.
The deal has become somewhat of a farce, and Real Madrid has blamed Manchester United for not sending the necessary documents on time. The Manchester club claim that they did send the required documents on time, and a report from Spanish magaizine AS states that Los Blancos weren’t able to open the format of the file.
Guillem Balague made it clear that both clubs were interested in the transfer and FIFA were to look into it, however the ruling was that the transfer wouldn’t go through, with UEFA stating that Real Madrid wouldn’t appeal the decision.
David De Gea is reportedly devastated by the collapse of the deal; the goalkeeper has remained professional throughout the saga, choosing not to hand in a transfer request or make any statements but instead trusting in the ability of the two clubs to get a deal done.
It was very clear that he wanted to go to Madrid in order to be closer to home but he will report to Manchester United’s Carrington training ground as many United and Real Madrid fans wait to see if there are any more instalments in the saga.
