'I called Neville brothers busy at Man Utd I'd never experienced anything like them'
Jaap Stam was left surprised by just how much Gary and Phil Neville were able to talk during his spell at Manchester United.
The Dutch legend, 51, joined the Premier League side in 1998 from PSV as he became the most expensive defender in history when the Red Devils forked out £10.75million for his services. Stam made an immediate impact in England as he played a major part in United's historic Treble triumph in his debut season.
While the former centre-back settled quickly in Manchester, there were aspects of club life that stunned him which included the chatting ability of the Neville brothers.
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Stam was team-mates with the pair in the three years he spent in Manchester and opened up on his experience with the siblings during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast - hosted by none other than Gary Neville.
"They [Gary and Phil Neville] were unbelievable. I had never experienced that. In Holland, it was a bit more quiet, and then Gary came in, and then Phil joined in as well – it’s unbelievable – they can talk! [I called them] busy, in a good way – not in a bad way."
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Sky Get it hereStam won three consecutive Premier League titles with Man United as well as being named in three consecutive PFA Team of the Year sides from 1999 to 2001. Despite his dominance, his time at the club was unexpectedly cut short after he was sold to Lazio for £16million.
The release of his autobiography 'Head to Head' in 2001 irked Sir Alex Ferguson after claiming that he was approached to sign for the club without the permission of PSV. On the podcast, he said: “He was screaming at me down the phone and told me I couldn’t publish these things but I assured him it wasn’t like that, the headlines of the paper made it worse."
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After heading back to Holland for a few days, he received a call from his agent that spelled the end of his illustrious Manchester United career. Stam admitted: "On the way back, though, I got a call from my agent and told him I was heading home but he said ‘They’ve already sold you’ and I replied ‘What’?"
Jaap Stam was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
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