Manchester United’s uneasy relationship with Manchester City has soured further because of a dispute over the recruitment of youth players, with the Old Trafford club even going as far as to consider refusing to play their neighbours at academy level.

Though United have stopped short of submitting a formal complaint to the Premier League, they are believed to have expressed their unhappiness at what they perceive as their neighbours’ overzealous recruitment strategy on more than one occasion.

A number of former United players — including Robin van Persie, Phil Neville and Darren Fletcher — have enrolled their sons in their rivals’ academy, while a host of the brightest prospects from across the country have opted to continue their development with City.

United threatened to complain