Real Madrid have issued a lengthy statement defending themselves against having failed to complete the signing of David de Gea from Manchester United last night.

A fee was agreed between both clubs for De Gea to move to the Bernabeu, while Keylor Navas was due to move the other way.




But the transfer was not completed before the transfer window closed in Spain, meaning De Gea has been forced to remain at Old Trafford.

Speculation and claims have floated as to why the move failed and now Real Madrid have given their version of events, insisting they did all they could to push through the deal, blaming Manchester United for sending documents late in the day, which then meant a battle against time to sign De Gea, which was ultimately lost.
 

David de Gea

 

The Spanish giants explained step by step in a statement how the day had unfolded and claimed they did everything in their power to sign De Gea: "After the events of yesterday in relation to the planned signing of the player David de Gea, Real Madrid wishes to state:

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"1: Manchester United did not open negotiations about the rights of David de Gea until yesterday morning.

"2: Real Madrid, despite the difficulties of an operation of this kind on the last day to register players, agreed to begin talks.

"3: When Manchester United started the process yesterday morning, they made it contingent on reaching an agreement with Real Madrid player Keylor Navas to join the British club this season and said they were in touch with his representative.

"4: Real Madrid and Manchester United reached a rapid agreement on the transfer of both players. After drafting the relevant contractual documents required and in order to process with sufficient time both the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS) as its entry in LFP time, Real Madrid and Manchester United exchanged contracts at 13:39 Spanish time.

"5: Manchester United sent their comments to the contracts eight hours later, at 21:43 Spanish time, including minor modifications. Not being relevant, all changes were accepted immediately by Real Madrid, with the intention to register the player with both TMS and the LFP.

"6: Real Madrid, after the signatures of David de Gea and Keylor Navas, sent the English club the documents at 23:32 Spanish time and awaited the final documents signed by Manchester United.

"7: Manchester United reached a final agreement with Keylor Navas' representatives at 23:53 Spanish time and that is when the contracts were sent to the player to be signed.

"8: Manchester United entered the TMS data from the operation of David de Gea, not that of Keylor Navas, at 00:00 Spanish time, simultaneously referring to the Real Madrid transfer contracts signed. Real Madrid received the full documentation at 00:02 and tried to access TMS, but it was already closed.

"9: At 00:26 Spanish time, the computer system of the FIFA TMS made an invitation to Real Madrid to fill in the player data for David de Gea, given that the deadline for registration in England remains open to this day. Real Madrid, in the eventuality of the contentious course of the transfer of the player, decided to refer the contract to the LFP, even knowing that the deadlines had expired.

"10: In short, Real Madrid did everything necessary and at all times to implement these two transfers."