David De Gea’s transfer to Real Madrid has reportedly collapsed

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel called the David de Gea transfer saga a "joke" last week.

Well it's now descended into complete farce. It was reported today that the Spanish goalkeeper was set to join Real Madrid from Manchester United, with Keylor Navas going the opposite direction. Personal terms and a transfer fee had been agreed between the two clubs for the respective goalkeepers, and all that remained was for the necessary paperwork to be completed before the Spanish transfer deadline at 11pm (midnight Spanish time). However, reports emerged that the paperwork wasn't submitted on time, and the deal is now off. Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague broke the news earlier tonight, before appearing on Sky Sports News HQ to say there's no precedent for La Liga granting an extension for deals to be completed. https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/638473938306236418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/Sport_Witness/status/638474182557306881 https://twitter.com/Sport_Witness/status/638475965287530496 https://twitter.com/MOgdenTelegraph/status/638474909665116161 https://twitter.com/MOgdenTelegraph/status/638478418045202432 https://twitter.com/MOgdenTelegraph/status/638478554544644096 https://twitter.com/MOgdenTelegraph/status/638485097906315264 https://twitter.com/DTguardian/status/638481888487833601 https://twitter.com/DTguardian/status/638481888487833601 https://twitter.com/DTguardian/status/638482524843450368 https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/638482798463053825 https://twitter.com/JanAageFjortoft/status/638482927651815425 United reportedly lodged their required paperwork one minute past the deadline, and, according to the Telegraph's Manchester football correspondent, Mark Ogden: "Real are likely to submit an appeal to Uefa today".

"With evidence to show that paperwork from both ends of the deal arrived in time and was merely delayed by the volume of papers being received by La Liga."

As it currently stands, De Gea, who is said to be distraught as he waits on confirmation, is still a Manchester United player, but the picture should become clearer over the next few hours. https://twitter.com/MOgdenTelegraph/status/638488287318032386 https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/638489006813130752 What's for certain is that the situation has become a complete farce. https://twitter.com/TheFootballRep/status/638481578281299972 More to follow.