David De Gea to Real Madrid: Will the deal for the Manchester United goalkeeper still go through?

'Late' paperwork has put the transfer in jeopardy

After David de Gea's move to Real Madrid collapsed at the eleventh hour last night, the Manchester United 'keeper's future was left firmly in the balance.

However, both clubs still hope the move can be pushed through and are expected to appeal to world governing body Fifa today.

Instances of football's authorities showing lenience towards last minute administrative errors are few and far between.

In 2009, Andrey Arshavin's move from Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal was completed a day after the window had officially closed, after a snowstorm delayed the registration process.


On that occasion, it was the Premier League's lenience that allowed the deal to go through.

In the case of De Gea, neither Real Madrid or Manchester United can point the finger at a freak weather occurrence or similar act of God.

The Spanish club initially cited technical difficulties as the reason why the transfer could not be completed before the Spanish deadline.

Sources close to Real accused their English counterparts of failing to send the necessary documents to the LFP, the Spanish league's governing body.

However, it later emrged that United had sent their documentation through on time, but in a format that staff at the LFP could not open.

Spanish newspaper AS has since reported that Real Madrid's documents had not been filed 28 minutes late.

The paper reports that Madrid 'keeper Keylor Navas, who was set to join United as part of the De Gea deal, wished to make changes to his contract, meaning that the paperwork dispatched later than expected.

The Old Trafford club have said they are 'relaxed' about the prospect of their goalkeeper staying at the club, despite the prospect of him leaving on a free when his contract expires next summer.

Source by: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/david-de-gea-to-real-madrid-will-the-deal-for-the-manchester-united-goalkeeper-still-go-through-10480522.html