Mourinho’s Notebook – De Gea-dline Day Special
De Gea-dline Day
David De Gea’s proposed move from Manchester United to Real Madrid was one of the longest most drawn-out sagas of the transfer window. We all knew he wanted to return to Spain and play for Los Blancos. We knew his contract was running out after this season so United could either sell him now for money or let him walk in 12 months for free. Even still, MUFC were demanding a world record fee for a goalie before they’d accept. Real Madrid weren’t gonna snap at that.
And so months passed with all sorts of speculation but nothing tangible ever really happening. United seemed happy to milk another 12 months outta him, Madrid were taking their time as always. When Louis Van Gaal had DDG sit out the start of the season, it felt like the writing was on the wall. But still no deal came.
Then on deadline day it all happened at once. The rumours, the rumoured agreement, the genuinely believable sources and the transfer seemed imminent. Just a matter of getting the paperwork done. The hours ticked by. The minutes ticked by. One too many of them, in fact.
The deal never got done. They agreed a fee, they agreed a transfer. They never filed the papers in time though, and the deadline passed.
How could this possibly happen? We still don’t quite know. Significant delays, mistakes in the forms, deliberate sabotage… the first reports were that the contracts came across in the wrong file type and Real Madrid/the Spanish officials couldn’t open them! See, this is why you install those pesky windows updates even as they piss you off with their ‘you must restart now’ pesterings. On a hilariously ironic note, here’s a recent RM tweet:
The late collapse was crazy enough but then we got a heavy dose of the blame game. First from Real Madrid:
REAL MADRID – OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Following yesterday's events in relation to the intended signing of the player David de Gea, Real Madrid wishes to state:
- Manchester United did not open any channel of negotiation over the federative rights of David de Gea until yesterday morning.
- Real Madrid, despite the difficulties entailed in carrying out a deal of these characteristics on the final day of registration, agreed to begin these talks
- 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 they were in contact with the aforementioned player's representatives.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In short, Real Madrid did everything necessary at all times to complete both transfers.
Then from Man Utd in response:
UNITED STATEMENT ON DE GEA TRANSFER
Manchester United notes Real Madrid’s statement on the attempt to sign David De Gea and sell Navas to Manchester United. The club feels compelled to provide some clarification with the following facts.
- Manchester United did not seek contact from Real Madrid for the sale of David. David is a key member of our squad and the club’s preference was not to sell.
- No offer was received for David until yesterday.
- At lunchtime yesterday, Real Madrid made its first offer to buy David. A deal was agreed between the clubs, which included Navas being transferred to Old Trafford. The deals were dependent on each other.
- In the last several hours of the process, with Navas at the Real Madrid training ground, Real Madrid were controlling the documentation processes of David, Navas and Real Madrid. Manchester United was in control only of the documentation of Manchester United.
- Manchester United sent transfer documents for both players to Real Madrid at 20:42 BST. David’s documentation was returned by Real Madrid to Manchester United without the signatory page at 22:32 BST.
- At 22:40 BST, minutes before the deadline, major changes to the documentation came through to Manchester United which immediately put the deals at risk.
- Only at 22:55 BST were the documents that are needed to cancel David’s contract received by Manchester United from Real Madrid.
- At this point Navas’ documentation was still not returned by Real Madrid.
- At 22:58 BST, the transfer agreement was sent back by Manchester United, uploaded onto TMS and accepted – all before the deadline.
It is our understanding that the deals couldn’t happen because:
- Real Madrid didn’t upload David’s documents onto TMS in time (Manchester United did)
- Real Madrid didn’t upload David’s documents to the Spanish league in time, per reports it seems some 28 minutes after the deadline
The fact that Manchester United filed the papers on time was acknowledged by the Football Association, who offered to support that claim in any discussions with FIFA. The club offered this assistance, as well as its own timestamped documents to Real Madrid but they have chosen not to go down this route.
Manchester United acts appropriately and efficiently in its transfer dealings. The club is delighted that its fan-favourite double Player of the Year, David de Gea, remains a Manchester United player.
You can make up your own mind as to who you wanna blame. That's what's so immensely fun about this whole thing.
Which leads us to wonder: what next? De Gea is free to negotiate overseas contracts from January, with six months left on his current deal. If Madrid so desire, they could buy him then too. Except that there’s no knowing how De Gea will see the drama. If he feels Madrid cooled on him, he might wanna renegotiate with United. Some sources say he still wants to join RM but will sign a new contract to prove his commitment for the rest of the season, knowing he can be sold still. Nothing substantial there, just rumours.
What we know for sure is that he’ll be a Man Utd player until at least January. He’s been included in their Champions League squad and could even be straight back into it against Liverpool after the international break.
Initially it was said De Gea was “distraught” but now it sounds like he’s fairly laid back about it, despite the circumstances. With Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque saying he needs to be playing to be considered for his nation, there’s plenty of motivation to get back on the park, especially with the Euros at the end of the season.
Hey but United did have other things to worry about that day too, as they sealed an exorbitant fee for teenage French striker Anthony Martial, who… well, he’s not exactly a household name yet.
From Morgan Schneiderlin:
"On the plane, Wayne Rooney came to speak to me and asked me who Martial was, because the English press had started to speak.”
Aww, geez. Like, we know Wazza can’t keep an eye on every player in every team in every league in Europe, he isn’t a scout. But a little rough of Schneids to make that public before the young lad joins the team. No pressure, but the captain of the team who also plays in your position has never heard of you, son. What did Morgan tell Wayne?
"I told him he's a great player with great potential, who has played some good matches with Monaco last season and the beginning of this. I told him he is technical and powerful. A little like Theirry Henry, even if it's the press who are making that comparison."
Gunners Gonna Moan
The transfer deadline also came and went without Arsenal adding anything more to their squad. In fact, Petr Cech was the only major signing they made all summer. Wenger may be more contented with his squad than ever before, but nothing has changed among the fans.
But being Arsenal fans, there will be no riots or protests or boycotts. Instead, the Arsenal Supporters Trusts has politely demanded “a full review into [Arsenal FC’s] arrangements for scouting and purchasing players”.
The Gunners reportedly had a transfer kitty of 50m to spend and were linked with the likes of Karim Benzema and Edinson Cavani but despite the clamouring for another striker… none was forthcoming.
Here’s the carefully worded AST twitter statement:
Arsenal have built a strong squad & just 1 or 2 more good additions would have strengthened the chances of winning a first title in 11 yrs.
No one wants Arsenal to buy players just for the sake of it, but we do want to see the money being invested to make the club stronger.
This isn't an issue that affects just one transfer window and seems to indicate a wider structural issue.
In recent years Arsenal have overhauled both their Academy and their medical set.
A review of this type is a good governance practice & can only help Arsenal to become a stronger club.
Now that the window is closed the squad is as it is.
This is the equivalent of writing an impassioned letter to a neighbour because their stereo’s on too loud. It seems no amount of F.A. Cups will ever be enough for this lot.
By the way, Arsenal were the only team in the top divisions of England, Spain, Italy, France and Holland not to buy a single outfield player.
Tactics Timmy Tweaks His Hammy
Hey, Tim Sherwood, Aston Villa manager, is nothing if not passionate.
As his side were denied a penalty against Sunderland, Sherwood erupted in frustration, looking to kick out at a set of water bottles near him, and instead pulling his hamstring.
“I was going to kick the water bottles forward but there were too many people so I thought I’d be polite and back-heel them and that has done my hamstring bad. I didn’t do my hamstring when I played but I’ve done it now as a manager!”
He also made a dick joke at the press conference afterwards. Where would we be without ya, Tim?
Football > Sex
So says Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets:
“In football, happiness lasts three or four days. Sex, on the other hand, can last just one minute.”
Well, you’ve gotta hand it to him for his honesty.
Getting Cold Feet
“There are other clubs interested like Sunderland, but Sunderland is a very cold city”
Liverpool’s Thiago Illori has his priorities in order, scuppering a move to Sunderland because of the temperature. He ended up on loan at Aston Villa instead, where the annual average temperature is actually about a degree colder (at least according to the first result on google search, anyway).
Social Media Stunners
RIGHT: Aaron Lennon signs with Everton on loan last season. LEFT: Aaron Lennon sings with Everton permanently this season. A year under Martinez taught him to smile...
