Following David de Gea's failed transfer to Real Madrid last summer, a clause was inserted in the Manchester United goalkeeper's new contract at Old Trafford allowing Los Blancos to come back in for him for the sum of 50 million euros.
Deadline came and went
But the deadline on that ageement passed on 15 June, with De Gea preferring to stay at the Premier League club. Louis van Gaal's sacking by the Red Devils left the 25-year-old increasingly open to the possibility of sticking around. His relationship with the Dutchman had not been good, and he was not up for continuing to work under him.
Mourinho lure
And United's appointment of José Mourinho, who has been in regular contact with the Spain international since taking over in Manchester, proved crucial as De Gea asked his representative, Jorge Mendes, not to move to execute the accord with Real, which remained valid only until Wednesday.
Zidane not keen
Real president Florentino Pérez felt he owed it to De Gea to go back for him this close-season, but the custodian's decision did coach Zinedine Zidane a favour: Keylor Navas' displays this term had convinced 'Zizou' that the Costa Rican should stay as number one at the Bernabéu, and his preference was not to swoop for De Gea.