Manchester United have released a long statement claiming it is Real Madrid's fault, not theirs, that David de Gea's return to Spain collapsed on Monday.
The keeper remains at Old Trafford until January at least after paperwork problems meant his £29.5m transfer broke down minutes before Spain's Monday deadline, reports Sky Sports.
United insist no talks were possible until Real submitted a bid, something they say did not happen until Monday morning, and that Real were "controlling the documentation processes of David, Navas and Real Madrid" heading into the final hours of the window.
Their view is that the transfer faltered because Real failed to register De Gea's data with FIFA before the 11pm cut-off point, and a United statement even said they and the Football Association were willing to offer support should Real appeal to FIFA over the transfer.
Real say they will not go down that route, leaving De Gea's position unclear as he enters the final few months of his contract.
The statement concluded: "Manchester United acts appropriately and efficiently in its transfer dealings. The Club is delighted that its fan-favourite double Player of the Year, David de Gea, remains a Manchester United player."