Stam snubbed Real to take Italian job

Jaap Stam spurned a last-ditch attempt to sign him by Real Madrid before completing his £16,500,000 move from Manchester United to Lazio yesterday.

Lazio general manager Massimo Cragnotti revealed that the Italian capital club had faced 11th-hour competition from the Madrid giants as he announced the Dutch international defender's stunning switch from the Premiership champions.

"Real Madrid tried to stop the signing last night but he (Stam) had already agreed to join us and said no," said Cragnotti, who revealed that after the departures of Juan Sebastian Veron and Marcelo Salas and the arrivals of Gaizka Mendieta and Stefano Fiore, the Rome club had completed their selection jigsaw.

"We are very happy he is here and this will finish our signings for the year. After losing Veron and Salas, we needed players to take us back to the top level."

"We chose the best and needed someone in defence like Stam. Now he will join the other new players, Mendieta and Fiore."