Real Madrid blame Manchester United’s ‘lack of experience’ for David de Gea’s collapsed move

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has blamed Manchester United's "lack of negotiating experience" for the failure of goalkeeper David De Gea's move to the Spanish capital on Monday.

David de Gea, right, and Spain and Manchester United teammate Juan Mata during a training session for Spain. JuanJo Martin / EPA

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said Manchester United’s “lack of negotiating experience” was to blame for the failure of goalkeeper David de Gea’s move to the Spanish capital on Monday.

The deal, which included Madrid’s Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas moving to United, broke down in surreal circumstances when the completed paperwork was not filed with the Primera Liga until just after the midnight deadline.

Madrid and United blamed each other for the collapse and Perez added more fuel to the fire late when he suggested in an interview with Spanish radio broadcaster Cadena Ser the English club’s negotiating team had not been up to the job.

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Perez noted that a similar situation had occurred last year when United wanted to buy Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao and also when they were tying up a deal to sign midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao.

“As it’s a new (United) team, they lack experience,” Perez told Ser’s “El Larguero” programme.

“It’s a shame. I don’t want to blame anyone but we do not understand why so much time was needed to look at the contracts.

“I don’t think they (United) had bad intentions. They would have had a lot of work to do.”

De Gea, whose United contract expires at the end of the season, could find himself in limbo, at least until the end of the year when the market opens again.

While the transfer saga rumbled on, United coach Louis van Gaal left the 24-year-old out of his matchday squads, with Argentina’s Sergio Romero playing instead.

Perez said it was too early to say whether De Gea might still join Madrid, where he is seen as a long-term replacement for former captain Iker Casillas, who joined Porto in July.

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