Spanish press convinced Manchester United have wrapped up transfer
The Spanish press are so convinced that Manchester United are about to complete a deal for Ezequiel Garay that they are already counting the money for Real Madrid. Garay plays for Benfica of course, but the Spanish side put a clause in his contract entitling them to 50% of any fee the Portuguese club received for the player, in this case that's €10m.
He's counted in Marca when they look at a list of money coming into Real Madrid. The club also got €4.4m from the sale of Negredo to Manchester City, because they had a clause in his Sevilla contract. It's being counted as money almost received. Marca are trying to work out a way it seems conceivable that the Madrid club can buy Gareth Bale and are therefore counting all the pennies, on the front page they say 'They will receive €10m for 50% of the United Garay move'.
Its not just Marca, Sport do a similar article and have two categories for counting Real Madrid's transfer income, one for closed deals and one for potential deals, the €10m for Garay and a move to Manchester United is in the closed deals section.
El Confidencial also cover the same, which makes you think someone has briefed the press. The whole idea is that this could be Real Madrid's biggest ever summer of sales and they too say that the Spanish club are set to receive €10m from Garay's 'passage to United'. It's not an if, but or maybe situation, as far as these outlets are concerned.
If the deal is so close to being completed and has been for so long then it makes you wonder why Manchester United just don't go ahead and get it completed! Yes, a centre back isn't the most exciting signing in the world but it would at least encourage fans that Edward Woodward hadn't forgot the code to the club's online banking.
The Spanish press are convinced, Garay is going to Manchester United and Real Madrid are expecting the money to arrive, this one may be close to coming to an end. Finally.