But the paperwork for the deal failed to be completed before the Spanish transfer window shut at midnight local time last night.
The goalkeeper will now remain with United after Real decided against appealing to FIFA over the move as, having missed the registration deadline with LFP, De Gea would not have been able to play La Liga matches until Janaury.
And Madrid released a statement of 10 points today in which they appeared to point the finger of blame at United for the deal's collapse.
The Full Statement
"After the events of yesterday in relation to the alleged hiring of David de Gea, Real Madrid wishes to state:
1) Manchester United didn't open any path of negotiation for the registration rights to David De Gea until yesterday morning.
2) Real Madrid, despite the difficulties associated with completing a deal of this type on the final day of registration, accepted the initiating of these conversations.
3) When Manchester United entered into these negotiations yesterday morning they did so subject to being able to reach an agreement with Real Madrid player Keylor Navas, in order that he would join the British club from this season, and informed that they were in contact with the representatives of said player.
4) Real Madrid and Manchester United arrived quickly at an agreement for the transfers of both players. After the editing of the relevant contractual documents and with the intention of proceeding with enough time to get everything sent to the Transfer Matching System of FIFA (TMS) as well as his registration with the Spanish Football League (LFP), Real Madrid resent the contracts to Manchester United at 13:39 Spanish time.
5) Manchester United sent back their comments on said contracts eight hours later, at 21:43 Spanish time, including small modifications. Due to not being relevant, all of the modifications were accepted immediately by Real Madrid with the intention of being able to register the player on time in the TMS and with the LFP.
6) Real Madrid, having obtained the signatures of David De Gea and Keylor Navas, sent back to the English club the signed contracts at 23:32 Spanish time, waiting to receive the final documents signed by Manchester United.
7) Manchester United reached a final agreement with the representatives of Keylor Navas at 23:53 Spanish time and it was at this time that the contracts were sent to the player to be signed.
8) Manchester United entered into the TMS all the information for the De Gea deal, but not those for Keylor Navas, at 00:00 Spanish time, sending back to Real Madrid at the same time the signed transfer contracts. Real Madrid received the completed documentation at 00:02 and tried to access the TMS, but found it to already be closed.
9) At 00:26 Spanish time the FIFA computer system, TMS, invited Real Madrid to fill in the details for David De Gea, given that the registration period in England continues to be open until today. Real Madrid, with the prospect of some contention over the transfer of the player, decided to send the contracts to the LFP, even knowing that the period had expired.
10) Definitively, Real Madrid had done everything necessary, at all times, to ensure that these two transfers happened.
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