Dave in The NOTW:
"It was Sunday, 15 June at the house in Sawbridgeworth. Sunshine and a perfect day for a family barbecue."
"I knew the gaffer was away on holiday so I rang Peter Kenyon (the chief executive)," he says. "I needed to know exactly where I stood.
Kenyon told him: "Well, David, if I'm honest with you, it seems to us that the relationship between you and the manager might never be the same again."
David writes: "I asked him what he'd do if he was in my shoes. He said, ‘Well, looking at it, I'd say you've had great years here but if something else is there, that might be a great challenge for you'.
"I'd heard what I'd expected to hear. Even if it hadn't been what I'd been wanting to hear.
"I got on with helping get stuff ready for the barbecue and then, about an hour later, I telephoned the Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez.
"Although Tony Stephens had met Senor Perez before, it was the first time I'd ever spoken to him...before I made any kind of decision, I felt like I needed to talk to him.
"He wanted to know where we were with everything. I said, ‘At the moment, I'm still a Manchester United player and until I settle things at this end, it's not right for me to talk about moving to Real'
Hmmmmmmmmm.