Manchester United have hit back at claims from Real Madrid that appeared to blame them for David De Gea‘s failed move to the Bernabeu, in a statement on their official website.
Los Merengues had claimed that they had done ‘everything necessary’ for the deal to go through in a statement of their own [official website]. The La Liga outfit had blamed their Premier League counterparts for taking too long to open negotiations, and also were too slow when they finally did.
However, the Red Devils have turned the blame back on the Bernabeu hierarchy, making very similar accusations to their rivals but in reverse. Here is the statement in full:
“Manchester United notes Real Madrid’s statement on the attempt to sign David De Gea and sell Navas to Manchester United. The club feels compelled to provide some clarification with the following facts.
– Manchester United did not seek contact from Real Madrid for the sale of David. David is a key member of our squad and the club’s preference was not to sell.
– No offer was received for David until yesterday.
– At lunchtime yesterday, Real Madrid made its first offer to buy David. A deal was agreed between the clubs, which included Navas being transferred to Old Trafford. The deals were dependent on each other.
– In the last several hours of the process, with Navas at the Real Madrid training ground, Real Madrid were controlling the documentation processes of David, Navas and Real Madrid. Manchester United was in control only of the documentation of Manchester United.
– Manchester United sent transfer documents for both players to Real Madrid at 20:42 BST. David’s documentation was returned by Real Madrid to Manchester United without the signatory page at 22:32 BST.
– At 22:40 BST, minutes before the deadline, major changes to the documentation came through to Manchester United which immediately put the deals at risk.
– Only at 22:55 BST were the documents that are needed to cancel David’s contract received by Manchester United from Real Madrid.
– At this point Navas’ documentation was still not returned by Real Madrid.
– At 22:58 BST, the transfer agreement was sent back by Manchester United, uploaded onto TMS and accepted – all before the deadline.
– It is our understanding that the deals couldn’t happen because:
Real Madrid didn’t upload David’s documents onto TMS in time (Manchester United did)
Real Madrid didn’t upload David’s documents to the Spanish league in time, per reports it seems some 28 minutes after the deadline.
– The fact that Manchester United filed the papers on time was acknowledged by the Football Association, who offered to support that claim in any discussions with FIFA. The club offered this assistance, as well as its own timestamped documents to Real Madrid but they have chosen not to go down this route.
“Manchester United acts appropriately and efficiently in its transfer dealings. The club is delighted that its fan-favourite double Player of the Year, David de Gea, remains a Manchester United player.”
This has all left De Gea in a very difficult situation at Old Trafford. Manager Louis van Gaal is yet to play the 24-year-old this season, claiming that the player doesn’t want to play for the club [The Guardian]. It is unknown whether the Dutchman will reinstate him to the first team now that the transfer window is closed until January.
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