Jaap Stam recalls brutal moment he was told he had been sold by Sir Alex Ferguson

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Jaap Stam has opened up about the real reason why he left Manchester United and the conversations that took place.

Following the release of his book, which provided insight into how United trains and crucial information about how a winning team operates, this naturally caused a stir.

Sir Alex Ferguson had a habit of wielding the axe often, sometimes to the most popular players within the United squad, David Beckham and Jaap Stam being the two best examples.

Stam left the club in 2001 and had previously revealed to The Mirror that he had been told of this news in a petrol station.

Stam on United exit

Upon the release of his book: ‘Head To Head’, the newspapers got hold of the quotes within the autobiography and published them, Ferguson, initially was relaxed, however, that stance soon changed.

“I went away with the national team, the secretary called me and told me that Ferguson wanted to speak to me,” Stam revealed on the Stick To Football Podcast. “He was screaming at me down the phone and told me I couldn’t publish these things but I assured him it wasn’t like that, the headlines of the paper made it worse.

“I went in a few days later and had another meeting with Ferguson that didn’t go well and I told him I’m going home for a few days. On the way back, though, I got a call from my agent and told him I was heading home but he said ‘They’ve already sold you’ and I replied ‘What’?’

“Fergie then told me that they were bringing in Laurent Blanc as my replacement. Sometimes I do (wish he turned down Lazio move and decided to stay), but you’re hurt after this (being told you’re not wanted).”

Fergie’s ruthlessness

It’s not just Stam who has been treated perhaps very harshly at Old Trafford before leaving the club. Beckham moved to Real Madrid due to the perceived power and the attention on him.

Roy Keane left the club in 2005 due to publicly calling out his teammates at Old Trafford.

Speaking in 2008, Ferguson was asked which former player he regretted letting go.

“Oh, Jaap Stam, absolutely. I made a big mistake with that decision,” the Scotsman said. During his 27 years at the club, Ferguson made only a few mistakes but selling the Dutch defender was certainly one of them.

Stam was a vital part of the treble winning team and United certainly sold the centre-back far too early.