Real Madrid have issued a lengthy statement to explain the reasons behind their collapsed move for Manchester United's David De Gea.
They say they did everything possible to get the deal done before the Spanish transfer deadline, which was midnight, but that United only submitted the transfer at that time and they did not receive full documentation until two minutes after that.
In a 10 point statement released by the club, Real claim:
1.- Manchester United did not open any negotiations over the federative rights of David de Gea until yesterday morning.
2.- Real Madrid, despite the difficulties entailed in carrying out a deal of these characteristics on the final day of registration, agreed to initiate these talks.
3.- When Manchester United agreed to negotiate yesterday morning, they made it subject to reaching an agreement with Real Madrid's Keylor Navas for the player to join the British club from this season, and stated that it was in contact with the aforementioned player's representatives.
4.- Real Madrid and Manchester United quickly reached an agreement for the transfers of both players. Following the drawing up of the relevant contractual documentation required, and with the purpose of proceeding with enough time to process both FIFA's Transfer Matching System (TMS) and the registration with the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, Real Madrid sent Manchester United the contracts at 13.39 Spanish time.
5.- Manchester United sent their remarks regarding the aforementioned contracts eight hours later, at 21.43 Spanish time, including minor modifications. As these modifications were not significant, they were all accepted immediately by Real Madrid, with the intention of being able to register the player on time both via the TMS and with the Liga de Fútbol Profesional.
6.- Real Madrid, having obtained the signatures of the players De Gea and Keylor Navas, sent the British club the aforementioned signed contracts at 23:32 Spanish time, before waiting to receive the final documents signed by Manchester United.
7.- Manchester United reached a final agreement with the representatives of Keylor Navas at 23:53 Spanish time, and it is at this point that the contracts were sent to the player to be signed.
8.- Manchester United entered the details of the David de Gea deal, not those of Keylor Navas, at 00:00 Spanish time, simultaneously sending Real Madrid the signed transfer contracts. Real Madrid received this complete documentation at 00:02 and attempted to access the TMS, but it was now closed.
9.- At 00:26 Spanish time, FIFA's TMS invited Real Madrid to fill out the details of the player David de Gea, as the period of registration in England remains open until today. Real Madrid, given the possibility of an administrative dispute over the player's transfer, decided to send the contracts to the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, despite the knowledge that the deadline had passed.
10.- In short, Real Madrid did everything necessary at all times to complete both transfers.
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