Lazio reach Stam settlement

The Dutchman left Old Trafford back in August 2001, but there has been significant wrangling over the payment of the fee, which was reportedly in excess of £15 million.

Lazio's well-documented cash problems have resulted in United growing increasingly frustrated at failing to receive the money they are due, and there has been much speculation in Italy that the biancoceleste would sell one of their stars to the Premiership club in order to clear the debt.

However, the Roman outfit have now declared their intent to pay installments between September 2004 and April 2005, totalling around £13.3 million.

United revealed that the amounts are payable by the Italian league, rather than Lazio, and there are back-up guarantees supplied by banks and insurance policies.