In 2015 David De Gea’s contract came 15 seconds late, La Liga did not allow his registration and Real Madrid suffered

The blame game is in full swing after David De Gea’s move to Real Madrid fell through – we sift through the claims and counter-claims Real Madrid thought they had wrapped up the signing of their long-term

goalkeeping target, Manchester United had got around £25m for a player with one year left on his contract and David De Gea had extricated himself from an awkward situation with a manager who no longer trusted him

De Gea on Marca’s cover for the 14th time since May. There’s even a letter about him in their Dear Deidre equivalent The deal was agreed. De Gea was heading to Madrid. And then it all collapsed

It seems very unlikely that the Spanish league will be open to any appeal, even if Real Madrid believe they have a case. So unless something extraordinary happens, De Gea will see out the season with United

But who is to blame for this turn of events? We took a look through the press to try and establish the guilty party, or parties as the blame game begins eporter Duncan Castles, a man with close links to big football players like Jose Mourinho and Jorge Mendes, said United left Real Madrid with no time to complete the deal. “According to sources involved in the La Liga club’s ill-fated attempt to acquire De Gea for €15 million plus

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, United failed to send documentation essential for the Spanish football federation to conclude De Gea’s transfer until four seconds after the RFEF’s midnight cut off

almost 30 minutes after the deadline. Keylor Navas was due to go the other way but he helped hold the deal up. “The contracts, which had been signed by the player, did not arrive at the LFP headquarters in time to be processed so as it stands, Keylor Navas will continue at Real Madrid and De Gea with United. Sources at the LFP confirmed that the documents sent by Real Madrid arrived at 00:28 CEST.

A total agreement between both clubs had been reached almost an hour earlier at 23:30. Real Madrid and Manchester United had agreed a 30 million euro fee for the transfer of David de Gea while Keylor would move in the opposite direction for 15 million. However, Keylor wanted to make modifications to his contract which meant that they were dispatched later than anticipated

When former man united and Spain goalkeeper  calls time on his playing career, there will be a lot to look back upon fondly. With 545 appearances for The Red Devils – a total that places him at seventh on their all-time list – and 45 caps for his national side, there is certainly a lot to celebrate; but there is also one pivotal moment, that has likely given the former  man many moments of contemplation since.

Whilst some players, faced with the scenario of their dream transfer being snatched away from them before their very eyes, would have been left feeling a little bitter, de Gea had a decidedly more positive outlook on things. De Gea

Having made a shaky start to his life in the Premier League, de Gea had recovered to become one of the highest-rated goalkeepers in world football, and chose to use this moment as further motivation to keep improving, and delivering for his club

He would also go on to be named in the PFA Team of the Year on three more occasions – including the season immediately after the failed transfer – and was named in FIFA’s FIFPro World 11 for 2018. Whilst another Premier League title would also never come about – to add to the title he had claimed in the 2012/2013 season – an, two EFL Cup’s, and a title helped add further glitter to de Gea’s time in Mancheste

La Liga confirmed on Tuesday that De Gea was not among the players who transferred by Monday’s deadline, but did not say whether Real Madrid actually attempted to register the player or if something went wrong to keep the deal from happening

When Manchester United opened this negotiation yesterday morning they did so with the plan to reach an agreement with Real Madrid player Keylor Navas so that he would join the British club this season and said that they are in contact with the player’s representative

Real Madrid, after getting the signatures of both De Gea and Keylor Navas, remitted the papers to the English club with the contracts signed at 23:32 Spanish time, and waited to receive the signed documents from Manchester United

At 00:26 Spain time, FIFA’s TMS system invited Real Madrid to add the information about the player David De Gea due to the fact that  transfer window remained open until today. Real Madrid, realising the eventuality of a contentious run for the player’s transfer, decides to remit the contracts to La Liga, even knowing that the window for the deal had closed

De Gea has not played for United since July due to concerns that he would be distracted by the uncertainty over his future, with summer signing Sergio Romero playing every game so far and 22-year-old academy graduate serving as backup

And reports of a return to his city of birth have resurfaced as Real look for a long-term replacement for Keylor Navas, with the Costa Rica international regularly linked with a move away from the club

Asked whether or not De Gea had told his representatives to keep transfer matters away from him during the build up to the World Cup, he said: “Football is football and a thousand things can happen. But I’m always calm. Come what may, I’ll be the same. It is important to be focused and be