FOOTBALL transfers are no longer done by fax after Manchester United star David de Gea’s deadline day move to Real Madrid infamously collapsed.
The Spaniard looked set to return to Spain back in 2015 after becoming one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
But the fax machine glitched and De Gea’s move was scuppered, much to United’s delight.
The August 31 deadline is often celebrated as ‘Fax Machine Day.’
De Gea himself admitted the controversy left him worried for how the Old Trafford crowd would react towards him.
The keeper revealed to the Daily Mail: “I was nervous walking out that day. They have always been behind me but I did wonder that day.
“As it transpired, they were amazing. Everyone was singing my name. It was important for me.”
Fax machines were a popular mode of transporting paperwork due to the legal world still preferring written documents and hand-written signatures.
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But they have since been replaced with more modern, savvy technology to prevent situations like De Gea’s happening again.
As Matt Wild, company secretary at Wolves, revealed to The Athletic, DocuSign is an example of technology used today.
The tech allows companies and organisations to manage electronic agreements and eSignatures.
He said on the deadline day madness: “It is DocuSign and deal sheets — no faxes these days — transfer agreements and registrations. All up against a ticking clock.
“As the end of a window approaches there’s always the heightened pressure.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk