YIP YAP

"The discussion about me leaving United has gone on for five years now. Sometimes, when a club gets an offer for a player, they accept it. That is the way it goes. Of course, maybe straight away you are not happy but you have to move on. I had three great years at Lazio and another two with AC Milan. I have no hard feelings. You could say it worked out well for me. I have had a good few years since leaving United."

The Supersoaraway Sun:

Alex Ferguson buried the hatchet with Jaap Stam, then stuck the knife into Ruud van Nistelrooy. SunSport revealed yesterday how Stam claimed he was stabbed in the back by Manchester United when they sold him in 2001.

But Stam and Fergie shook hands here last night and claimed there were no hard feelings.

Then the Old Trafford boss rounded on Van Nistelrooy. Ferguson claimed Van Nistelrooy simply could not stand being dropped from the team — so he booted him out.

The Scot chose a press conference for this weekend's Amsterdam Tournament to speak about the situation for the first time.

He said: “Every time you select a team you are hesitant to tell certain players they are out because they are great players and have been great players for you in the past.

“You hope players understand the reason for leaving them out but sometimes that player does not.

“How they adapt to that is different — and Ruud was different that way.”

Yesterday Ferguson claimed that it was simply the size of the offer that made them sell. He said: “Sometimes you get an offer you cannot refuse.

“But I remember the good days when he helped to win the European Cup for us.”

Stam added: “We have shaken hands. These things happen in football.

“Sometimes you do well at a club and then you go to a different team.”