Jaap Stam returns to Old Trafford with Reading 16 years after he was controversially sold and reveals infamous car park meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson
The Dutch centre-back spent three years with the Red Devils and is regarded as one of the Premier League's finest defenders
IT might have 16 years since Jaap Stam was controversially sold by Manchester United, but the Dutchman still feels aggrieved by his sale to Lazio.
The former defender is now in charge of EFL Championship side Reading, and takes his team to Old Trafford this weekend when they clash in the FA Cup.
Stam has recalled the moment Sir Alex Ferguson told him he would not be staying on with the club...by telling him at a petrol station!
Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester United news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Despite being one of the linchpins of the treble-winning side in the 1998/99 season playing in the heart of the back four, the 44-year-old was sold for £16.5million to the Italian side.
Ferguson was reportedly furious with accusations Stam made in his autobiography 'Head to Head' and deemed him not good enough for his team anymore.
related stories
Stam recalled the conversation that ultimately ended his Red Devils career.
He recalled speaking to his agent Tom van Dalen who informed him that United had accepted an offer from an unnamed club.
He said: "Ferguson phoned straight away after that and asked ‘Where are you?’ I said: ‘I’m going back home, as you know.’
"He said: ‘Stop at the petrol station.’ He came over. I waited there. He got into my car. He spoke about the other club, what he wanted to do and then he left and I left. We separated and went our ways and I was sold after that."
However though angered by Ferguson's decision to sell him, he remains a huge admirer of his talents as a manager.
He said: "He was a great manager for building a team.
"He’s not only looking for big names but looking for certain qualities that he needs within his squad that makes his squad perform and do well and I think it’s a great quality to have that as a manager.
"And because of all the years he was a manager he can read people. He knows certain players and what they think, how they do and how they feel."
Since taking charge of The Royals, Stam has impressed, and has so far guided his team to third spot in the table, six points behind second-placed Newcastle with a game in hand.
But he not sought the advice from Ferguson on how to manage a side, and instead looks to fellow Dutch compatriots Ronald Koeman, Guus Hiddink and former United boss Louis van Gaal who have all had success in England's top flight.