For Real Madrid, Why Not Just Wait in the Never-Ending David De Gea Saga?

It was the headline that transformed a story into a frenzy. "Real strike De Gea deal," roared Marca, the Madrid-based daily intoxicating a club, city and perhaps even half of a country with euphoric thoughts of David De Gea's arrival in the Spanish capital.

That was on May 16. Almost three months ago. 

Three months is a long time. Three months ago, Real Madrid were still in the title race in La Liga, Lionel Messi hadn't yet delivered the knockout blow and Carlo Ancelotti was still the coach.

Three months ago, no one had won a treble, Iker Casillas' awkward exits hadn't happened, Rafa Benitez hadn't gotten teary, the wider world hadn't heard of Marco Asensio and Martin Odegaard hadn't made his debut. 

Three months ago, there was no Sergio Ramos saga, Angel Di Maria wasn't in Paris, Petr Cech hadn't crossed London, Manchester United hadn't got #Schmidfield to start trending, Tottenham Hotspur hadn't completed the "Bale money" player clear out, presidential elections hadn't been held in Barcelona, the Copa America hadn't started, Neymar hadn't lost it, Fabian Delph hadn't done his comical turnaround.

Australia were even still good at cricket.

Remember all that? It's only a tiny sample of what's happened in three months of, well, De Gea. Three months is long time. To some, pre-May 16 might feel like the good ol' days.

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For Real Madrid, the uncertainty might have made the three months feel like 30.

In that time, De Gea has been coming, staying, coming, staying, coming, staying. He's agreed to terms, he hasn't agreed to terms. He's sold his house, he hasn't sold his house. His girlfriend's words have been examined, the transcripts probably sent to Langley. Someone has probably attempted to interview his cat.

Amid it all, Real Madrid have discarded a club icon (Casillas) to make space in the anticipation De Gea would arrive. Then the club signed a contingency plan (Kiko Casilla) in the anticipation he wouldn't. In between, Benitez has praised the other guy (Keylor Navas).

But still the De Gea pursuit rumbles on, with Marca's P. Polo declaring that—even after three months—"D-day" is still approaching. Donnie Darko was more straightforward than this.

It can't go on.

Right now, when Real Madrid unveil players, crowds chant "De Gea, De Gea." While the move is still presented as possible, the chase ongoing, there'll be Madrilenians murmuring his name in their sleep, people wanting to know if they can surgically turn Navas into him.

Worst of all, we'll have to watch Benitez—currently using very straight bats—in already-dreary press conferences go all Bill Murray weatherman. We don't want that.

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But on a more serious note, the seemingly perpetual speculation only allows a sense of uncertainty to linger around the Bernabeu.

And this is a club that doesn't need any more of that. This is a club with a new manager, adjusting to new ideas, new methods and new systems. A club trying to chase down a rampant Barcelona. A club that's trying to shrug aside its own underachievement, its habitual acts of self-harm via a business model that has accompanied a startling disregard for cohesion. Stability. Togetherness. The basics, really.

De Gea would of course be a magnificent addition at the Bernabeu, but this saga has gone on too long. Real Madrid are frustrated by it. Manchester United are frustrated by it. Headline writers are growing frustrated by it. The player himself is probably frustrated by it.

There are also two goalkeepers, Navas and Casilla, currently residing in the Spanish capital and watching this pursuit go on and on, perhaps wondering what the hell they're doing there.

The former was supposed to be the answer at this time last year. The latter has become an odd sort of answer this year. With De Gea forever looming, their careers are effectively in limbo, their heads cluttered, their feeling of worth undermined. It's no recipe for performance.

But Real Madrid can end all of this, quell the uncertainty, allow themselves to get on with their season.

De Gea, just 24, has his best years still ahead of him. In 11 months' time, the shot-stopper can arrive without disruption or complication, Manchester United powerless to stop the move once his contract expires. There's nothing wrong with waiting for that.

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What's more, pulling out of the De Gea quest would likely end the Ramos speculation, a chance for the club to say "we'll wait a year, and Ramos isn't for sale."

Because United won't be backing down here. Make no mistake: This has become a power struggle, an opportunity for United to re-establish an aura, a sense of control. Their clout.

It might have taken Real Madrid a little by surprise, club president Florentino Perez so accustomed to getting what he wants when he wants. But if breaths are taken, the broader view examined, Real still hold the upper hand simply because they have the option of waiting that United don't.

After three months of uncertainty, that option now looks like a damn good one for Madrid. A way to end the saga. A way to save money. A way to settle a pair of existing keepers. A way to protect the squad from the advances of a cashed-up United. A way to get on with the season.

A way to end all this madness that had a crate of Red Bull given to it on May 16. A day that was almost three months ago. Three months of this is a long time.

Ironically, settling it involves deciding to wait a fair few more.