David De Gea: Why did the deal from Manchester United to Real Madrid collapse?

The Spanish goalkeeper's proposed move fell through at the last minute

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea (Getty Images)

David De Gea's proposed move from Manchester United to Real Madrid sensationally collapsed last last night.

The clubs had reached an agreement worth £29m, with Keylor Navas coming to Old Trafford as part of the deal. Meanwhile, the player was ready to move.

However, the deal failed to go through. So what went wrong?

Whilst the transfer window in England remains open until 6pm today, the Spanish window closed at 11pm European time last night - 10pm in the United Kingdom.

All the paperwork needed to be concluded and sent to Fifa's Transfer Matching System before then. But that didn't happen.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea (Getty Images)

So who was to blame?

It depends on who you listen to.

United insist they uploaded the requisite documents before the deadline and have the confirmation to prove it.

It is understood that United feel it was Madrid who failed to file their paperwork in time and believe they must take the blame for the deal's collapse.

There are suggestions that whilst the paperwork was sent on time, it was in a format that could not be opened.

Spanish sports daily AS quoted unidentified Spanish league sources as saying the paperwork had not been delivered until 28 minutes past midnight - although did not specify who was to blame for its late arrival.

Meanwhile, rival paper Marca reported that Real Madrid had proof the paperwork arrived at one minute before midnight and were still expecting the transfer to go through.

Manchester United say there is no question that their highly-experienced club secretary John Alexander, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, would have missed the deadline.

So what happens now?

The refusal by the Spanish league - the Liga de Futbol Profesional – to register the transfer means that Madrid must now appeal to Fifa to authorise De Gea’s move.

Governance officials from national federations, including the English Football Association are able to log on to the Fifa TMS system. The FA will be in a position to support United case’s that they logged the agreement in time for the deadline.

In domestic transfers between English clubs, the FA gives trading clubs an hour’s grace if they can log the heads of terms agreement in time for the deadline. No such arrangement is in place in international transfers.