David de Gea
David de Gea's transfer to Real Madrid did not go through after Manchester United reportedly failed to submit the paperwork before the transfer deadline. Reuters/Mark Avery

The long-awaited deal between Manchester United and Real Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea has fallen apart after completed paperwork failed to arrive at the Spanish League office before the transfer deadline. While United claimed that the club uploaded the required documents to FIFA’s Transfer Matching System on time, Spanish media believe the Red Devils’ delaying tactics was a revenge for the Sergio Ramos deal fiasco earlier this month.

De Gea’s proposed transfer to Bernabeu has reportedly collapsed at the last minute as finalised paperwork failed to arrive at LFP’s office before the transfer deadline. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday that United was not able to complete the documentation on time and that the club sent the paperwork back to the Spanish League office past the deadline. However, Balague claimed that the Spanish media is convinced that United’s move was a revenge for Real defender Ramos, who opted to stay at Bernabeu after publicly announcing his desire to play at Old Trafford.

"Everything was agreed, there was a little bit of a battle of figures but everybody was waiting in their places,” Balague said, Sydney Morning Herald reports. "The Spanish media are fuming and saying this is revenge for what happened with Sergio Ramos.”

According to ESPN FC, an agreed fee of £29 million (AU$62.6 million) was on the table, but it seems United will retain the Spanish stopper until January next year, when the transfer windows re-open. The deal was also supposed to include Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas transferring to United but with the Red Devils reportedly not able to beat the deadline, negotiations have melted.

United sources said the club were confident that their paperwork was logged with the FIFA TMS before the 10pm deadline and they have the supporting documents to prove that. The Spanish League’s refusal to register the transfer means Real must now appeal to FIFA to authorize De Gea’s move to the Spanish club.

Meanwhile, United sources said they were “relaxed” about the possibility of keeping De Gea until next year, reports Independent. The Red Devils claimed that if the Spanish international see out the final year of his contract, the club would be relaxed at the outcome.

United was initially willing to hold De Gea until the final year of his contract, risking to lose the Spaniard on a free transfer. However, after talks between the two clubs, a transfer was arranged for the 24-year-old goalkeeper. De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid four years ago and has made 175 appearances, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for each of the last two seasons. However, De Gea has not been picked by United in its first six matches ever since the transfer saga started.

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