SHARE
COPY LINK
FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER

De Gea transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid scuppered

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea's proposed transfer to Real Madrid appeared to be scuppered on Monday night as the move was not listed in the transfers registered by the Spanish Professional League.

De Gea transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid scuppered
The Manchester United goalie was tipped to head to Madrid. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand / AFP

Madrid seemed set to conclude the long-running transfer saga with a deal that would see the Spanish giants pay up to €30 million ($33.5 million, £21.8 million) for De Gea, with Costa Rican international goalkeeper Keylor Navas moving to United.

Initial reports suggested that the documentation needed to formalise the transfer wasn't completed before the Spanish transfer window closed at midnight local time (2200GMT).

However, subsequent reports in the Spanish media claimed Madrid will attempt to demonstrate to the football authorities that all the documentation was in place before the deadline.

De Gea has just one year left on his contract at Old Trafford meaning he could join Madrid for free next year if the transfer doesn't go through now.

The Spanish international hasn't featured in any of United's six games so far this season with manager Louis van Gaal claiming the 24-year-old wasn't focused at the English giants due to Madrid's interest.

The 10-time European champions were in the market for a goalkeeper after Spain captain Iker Casillas ended his 25-year association with the club by moving to Porto in July.

De Gea joined United from Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid in 2011 and despite a shaky start went on to shine, winning the club's fans' and players' player of the year awards for the past two seasons.

However, he refused to sign a new deal with United due to his desire to return to Spain with Real.

A standoff between the two clubs ensued with United also expressing their interest in Real captain Sergio Ramos over the summer before he ended speculation over his future by signing a new five-year deal with Los Blancos.

De Gea's girlfriend, the singer Edurne who represented Spain in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, caused a row earlier this year when she slammed Manchester for being ugly.

READ MORE: Battle of the cities: Madrid vs Manchester 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

FOOTBALL

Zlatan on winning: ‘I keep doing it’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he appreciates winning the older he gets, after celebrating Manchester United's League Cup final win.

Zlatan on winning: 'I keep doing it'
Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifts the trophy. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Ibrahimovic scored twice in Sunday's 3-2 win over Southampton at Wembley, opening the scoring with a powerful free-kick before sealing the first major trophy of his time at United with a clinical 87th minute header.

When the Swedish striker joined United on a free transfer last year after leaving Paris Saint-Germain critics questioned whether he was pasat his best.

But the 35-year-old has spectacularly silenced those jibes with a brilliant first season with United.

His goals have kept United in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League and now he burnished his already glowing reputation with a memorable Wembley double to take his goal tally for the season to 26 in all competitions.

But for Ibrahimovic, who has collected trophies wherever he has gone in a career encompassing spells at Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Ajax, it was no more than he expected.

“This is a team effort. This is what I came for, to win – and I am winning. The more I win the more satisfied I get,” Ibrahimovic said.

“You appreciate it more the older you get. Wherever I have gone I have won. I think this is trophy number 32 for me.”

“This is what I predicted. To many I could not do it. My friend, I keep doing it. I'm enjoying it in England.”

Ibrahimovic said it was his close relationship with boss José Mourinho that persuaded him to move to United and he was always convinced it would be a successful resumption of their partnership, which first flourished at Inter.

Now he has repaid Mourinho by helping him become the first United manager to win a major prize in his maiden season in charge at Old Trafford.

“I got a call from José Mourinho. I have a good relationship with him and that's why I came,” he said.

“I know I made the right choice. I predicted what I would do. I came – that's special.”