Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tonight denied that the decision to sell Jaap Stam had anything to do with the Dutch international's much-publicised autobiography.
Lazio tonight announced they will unveil Stam at an 11am press conference tomorrow after completing his transfer from Manchester United. The Rome club claim the 29-year-old centre-half has agreed a four-year contract, although no fee has been revealed as yet.
Ferguson also confirmed he would try to sign a replacement for Stam before the Champions League deadline next Saturday. "It was my decision and I decided that we needed to bring someone in," said the United boss after his side's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. "With respect to Jaap and the job he has done here, it would have been hard to make him sit on the bench."
Ferguson would not reveal the transfer fee, but said he would use the money to buy a replacement. Ferguson insisted the sale of Stam had nothing to do with the player's recently published autobiography in which he alleged the United manager had approached him without PSV Eindhoven's permission before signing him for £10.75million in 1998. Stam also criticised his Old Trafford team-mates in the book. "It was a major decision, but sometimes those come easier to me because things become clearer," Ferguson added. "It was absolutely a footballing decision, you must believe me on that. It had nothing to do with his autobiography."
Lazio vice-president Massimo Cragnotti revealed after today's 1-1 draw with Piacenza that Stam had agreed to move to Italy. "Jaap Stam is a Lazio player," he said at a press conference. "We have called a press conference for 12 o'clock (11am GMT) tomorrow to present the player. Jaap Stam has signed with us for four years."
Filed by Pat Nugent
