I had trials at Manchester United - but Man City did 'proper' sessions so I signed for them instead

It's not just at first team level where Manchester United and Manchester City are competing for the top players, staff and executives.

United have taken City's COO Omar Berrada this season as well as appointing their former Academy Director in Jason Wilcox, and the two sides have gone head-to-head for a number of transfers in recent years. At academy level over the last year, United have snapped up Jack and Tyler Fletcher from City, with Harrison Parker going the other way.

United completed a league and League Cup double at under-18 level this term, ending City's four-year dominance of the under-18 Premier League, beating City in the U18 PL Cup final recently. The Blues are now looking to end their season on a high by lifting the FA Youth Cup for the first time in four years. United won it two years ago.

Jadon Sancho and Champions League stars give easy inspiration for Man City's FA Youth Cup final

Man City departure confirmed as player's dad reveals club contract decision

Move further down the age groups and there is plenty of competition from both clubs to snap up the best young talent in the North West and beyond. Clubs go to great lengths to persuade parents and youngsters to sign up to their academies in the hope they will progress through the system and become first-team options or earn sizeable transfer fees.

Speaking ahead of the Youth Cup final, City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey recalled his multiple early trials as a young boy, including at City and United. He admits he preferred the sessions at United because he got to play football - which is all he wanted to do. But after taking advice, Simpson-Pusey and his family saw the benefit of City's more planned-out approach and the Yorkshire-born centre-back