Real Madrid statement: David De Gea deal collapsed after Manchester United took eight hours to return contracts, Spanish club claims

Real were unable to complete the relevant documents after United's contracts returned two minutes after the transfer deadline

David De Gea in the stands at Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Real Madrid have issued a extraordinary 10-point statement in which they have accused Manchester United of being at fault for the failure to sign David De Gea, claiming the Premier League club took eight hours to make minor alterations to contract documents before returning them.

De Gea’s deal failed to go through in time to meet La Liga’s midnight deadline, meaning that the goalkeeper will remain at United until at least January.

United claimed that they did everything right to ensure the deal happened, however Real have accused them of stalling on the deal until it was too late.

The Spanish club claim that negotiations did not begin until Monday morning over a move for De Gea, and United immediately demanded Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas as part of the deal.

The statement, which was released in Spanish on Real Madrid’s official website, translates to:

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

2. Real Madrid, despite the difficulties of an operation of this kind in the last day of registration, agreed to begin these talks.

3. When Manchester United entered negotiations yesterday morning, they made a demand on reaching an agreement with Real Madrid’s player Keylor Navas to be included to the British club this season, and reports that it is in contact with representatives of the player.

4. Real Madrid and Manchester United reach a rapid agreement on the transfer of both players. After the drafting of the relevant contractual documents required and in order to proceed with sufficient time to process both the Fifa Transfer Matching System (TMS) as its entry in the LFP [La Liga] time, Real Madrid forward contracts to Manchester United at 13:39 Spanish hour.

5. Manchester United sent its 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 Professional Football League.

6. Real Madrid, after the signatures of the players De Gea and Keylor Navas, sent the English club said contracts signed at 23:32 Spanish time, we await to receive the final documents signed by Manchester United .

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

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

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

10. In short, Real Madrid has done everything necessary, and at all times, to implement these two transfers.

The Independent has launched a new football app! Live scores, in-game stats, breaking news, videos and push notifications are just some of the many features. Use the links below to download and get more from Indy Football...

iPhone
http://ind.pn/iphonefootball

iPad
http://ind.pn/ipadfootball

Android
http://ind.pn/androidfootball