You're right about it being a cluster feck. You say you don't care whose fault it is but seem very keen to point the finger at United (a recurring theme for you, since Fergie retired)
I think Woody's overseen a number of transfer market farces and have very little faith in him but this situation really put him in an impossible situation. The player was adamant he wanted to leave and play for Madrid, yet they didn't make a bid until the final 24 hours of the transfer window. We can't sign a replacement until we're sure De Gea is going and we can't be sure he's going until we receive a bid we feel is fair. Then Madrid finally take their thumb out their arse, come to us with a proposal, which we accept and they somehow manage to feck up the paperwork at their end. Incredible. Even their arse-licking publication of choice, Marca, is blaming them for what's happened.
So yes, it's a cluster feck but - for once - this is something you can't be critical of United about.