Manchester United hero Jaap Stam has spoken of how Sir Alex Ferguson sold him.

After the release of his ­autobiography in 2001, ­including claims that United had made an illegal approach for him, United moved quickly to ditch their ­defensive ­kingpin to Lazio for £16.5million.

Now Stam has revealed the details of his D-day with United and boss Sir Alex ­Ferguson. Stam, 40, told the Sunday Mirror: "I soon realised the club wanted to get rid of me. They also needed the money. Very soon the book became an issue again.

"It led to a conflict between me and the manager.

"One morning I told him what I thought and left the training ground on the spot. On the way home I received a phone call in my car from Fergie's ­secretary. She said that he wanted to speak to me. He came on the phone straightaway.

"Ferguson said: 'Where are you?' "I said: 'Close to my house, at a petrol ­station.' Ferguson said: 'Wait there!' "He jumped in his car and came straight to me.

"At the petrol station he parked his car and got in with me.

"He told me that I had to be transferred. Then he said: 'Will you please move to Lazio quickly?'

"I agreed to do it. Right there and then. One quick ­conversation in my car at a petrol station in Manchester was enough for me to leave that big club. When I think about it now, and I have never talked about it before, I find it unbelievable

"I let that, as a player, happen to me.''