Premiership: Veron happy at United

Manchester United star Juan Sebastian Veron insists he will stay with the club but claimed he and other top players at Old Trafford would have left if Alex Ferguson had not agreed to stay.

The Argentinian had been linked with a return move to Lazio after joining United from the Italian club in a £28m deal in the summer.

However, he said: ‘‘I have never said I want to leave Manchester United and the same remains true.

‘‘I am enjoying my time in England. I am at a fabulous club who have aspirations of winning the Champions League.

‘‘The Champions League is like the World Cup - when you win it once you want to do it over and over again.

‘‘I now want to win the Champions League with United. The players here are aware we have a great chance of doing well in the competition this season and I am determined to be a winner in the competition.’’

Veron felt his comments on a trip back to Italy had been misconstrued and admitted: ‘‘The problems started because I went back to Italy.

‘‘But I had a great understanding with my great friend and Lazio striker Hernan Crespo that I would return to see him at the first opportunity.’’

Veron felt United’s slump in form earlier in the season had been the result of uncertainty over Ferguson’s future, but that has now been resolved following the manager’s decision to stay for another three years.

‘‘The club has been through a period of turbulence and the players have been affected by the uncertainty.

‘‘No one had any idea who the club wanted to succeed him. That created turmoil and there were players who did not want to commit themselves because they did not know who was going to replace him.

‘‘But things will come good again for Manchester United now Mr Ferguson has decided to stay.’’