Manchester United reportedly asked Manchester City if two of their players could join them on their private jet to Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, but the Citizens rejected the request.
The Red Devils will be represented by two of their young stars as this year's event in Paris, as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have both been nominated for the Kopa Trophy.
The award is presented to the best performing player under the age of 21 for the 2023-24 season, with Mainoo and Garnacho both up for the prize after helping Man United stun Man City in the FA Cup final last season.
Man United's shock success at Wembley came several months after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his 27.7% purchase from the Glazer family, and the INEOS chief has been implementing a host of cost-cutting measures since his arrival.
Convinced that the Red Devils were expending far too much money, Ratcliffe has already axed as many as 250 jobs at Old Trafford, while Sir Alex Ferguson will also be leaving his lucrative ambassadorial role at the end of the season.
Man United 'asked Man City to fly Mainoo, Garnacho to Ballon d'Or'
© Imago
According to the Daily Mail, Ratcliffe's latest money-saving initiative saw the Red Devils ask bitter rivals Man City if Garnacho and Mainoo could join them on their private jet for the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
However, the Citizens informed their counterparts that their flight was already full, as the reigning Premier League champions boast a significant number of representatives for this year's award show.
Rodri, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland have all been nominated for the men's prize, while women's trio Lauren Hemp, Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa are on the Ballon d'Or Feminin shortlist.
In addition, Pep Guardiola is on a six-man shortlist for the Men's Coach of the Year, and City have also been put up for the Club of the Year prize against Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Girona and Borussia Dortmund.
Man United supposedly wanted Mainoo and Garnacho to rub shoulders with City's nominees due to concerns over their carbon footprint and how they would be viewed sending just two players on a private jet, but alternative travel arrangements must now be made.
Could Man City, Man United win any Ballon d'Or awards?
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While no fewer than 10 representatives from both halves of Manchester are up for various awards, they are unlikely to see any of their stars' feats rewarded, even though Rodri is one of the top contenders for the top honour.
Instead, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior is expected to beat both the Spaniard and teammate Jude Bellingham to the Ballon d'Or, thereby becoming the ninth different Blancos player to take home the prize.
Garnacho and Mainoo are also facing incredibly stiff competition for the Kopa Trophy from Barcelona's 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who played a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 success over the summer.
Finally, Guardiola and City may not have done enough to beat Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen to the Coach and Club honours following their Invincibles season and German domestic double, while Aitana Bonmati is the firm favourite for the Ballon d'Or Feminin.
Ben Knapton
