MADRID — Major soccer transfers almost always involve secretive talks among clubs, players and their agents haggling over large sums. The outcome is ultimately made public if a deal is reached, but often in trite statements in which the buying club welcomes the arrival of a top player while the seller thanks him for his contribution. Rarely is there a mention of exactly how much cash has been exchanged.
But the spectacular and acrimonious collapse of a deal can also be instructive, shedding light on the murky world of multimillion-dollar transfers — and on how even the biggest deals can come down to simple paperwork and the timely use of a fax machine.