Transfer Tales: Stam signs for United

PSV Eindhoven were very reluctant to lose their defensive collosus and Alex Ferguson had to pull out all the stops in order to acquire somebody who would prove a pillar of the team that lifted the Treble in his first season.

The Eredivisie side were demanding a world-record fee for a defender for the centre-back, who was described as a "one-man defence" by no less a judge than Netherlands footballing icon Johan Cruyff.

With Stam under contract until 2003, talks were difficult to push towards a transfer.

United chairman Martin Edwards conceded after a trip to the Netherlands: “He is a player they don’t want to lose and that’s part of the problem.” However, Bobby Robson’s arrival as manager, in place of Dick Advocaat, led to a possible breakthrough as the new coach would need his own transfer budget and may be more amenable to negotiations.

Although United were keen to conclude matters before the 1998 World Cup finals got under way, when his value could rise even further, PSV were happy to confirm rival offers from Internazionale, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. Yet the Dutch Footballer of the Year was clear on his future. “Manchester United have always been the club I wanted to join and now it looks like it could become a reality,” he enthused.

An initial bid of £8 million was rejected, as was a second offer of £10 million. With negotiations only making slow progress, Stam reportedly agreed to waive his 15 per cent cut of the fee.

In an later interview with us, Stam confirmed this detail: "Normally in your contract, you’re entitled to certain clauses to maybe get a certain percentage of the transfer fee, and I was no different. I was entitled to a large amount of money if I moved to United but, for me, it was never about making money.

"Of course, your salary needs to be okay – that’s the same for everybody – but the most important thing for myself was to go to a big club, succeed, hopefully win trophies. When United came, a very big club with great players, I was very excited to go over there and join them.

"My first thought was joining them and being a success, not making as much money as I could, so I decided that I had to give up the money to make that step to United."

“Every big club has been in for Stam,” stated Ferguson. “All the top Premiership clubs, in fact. He’s an excellent player and he would be good for us.”

Stam was determined to clinch the transfer he craved before concentrating on the World Cup. “It’s a ridiculous attitude from PSV. They are not happy to accept £10 million when they bought me for £1 million from Willem II two years ago. There is no other player in Europe who has multiplied his value tenfold during that time.”

Indeed, a year earlier, Liverpool were said to be favourites ahead of United to land the centre-back for a mere £2.5 million after Roy Evans made a personal check on his form. However, Stam did admit it was always going to be Old Trafford in his mind. "I’ve always been a fan of English football and especially United," he later said. "Everybody knows United in Holland, so it’s huge here."

Despite talk of a late bid from new Rangers boss Advocaat, the deal was finally concluded to suit all parties and Stam went to the World Cup as a United player.

After winning the Treble in 1999, and securing Premier League titles in the following two seasons as well, the rugged centre-back was surprisingly sold to Lazio in 2001.