Manchester City have snapped up a talented youngster from under the noses of neighbours United.

Alex Robertson, a highly-rated under-15s midfielder who hails from Australia, had been playing for the Reds and travelled to the Copa Mallorca tournament with them in April.

But the Blues have swooped in, offering the teenager a scholarship to sign up with them instead.

Robertson scored four goals and picked up an assist as City Under-15 beat Rotherham 7-0 in the Floodlit Cup last week and has posed for pictures in his shirt.

City moved similarly last December when they signed Yeboah Amankwah. The defender, now 16, had been on trial at United for a few months and was offered a scholarship deal with them, but opted to move to City instead.

The Blues are banned from signing academy players after they were found guilty of breaching Premier League transfer rules.

However, that only applies to anyone registered at other clubs. Since United had not signed Robertson up, City were free to beat them to the punch.

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There have been significant changes in the academy over the summer. Jason Wilcox has been confirmed as the new academy director and Gareth Taylor has moved up to coach the Under-18s, replacing Mark Allen and Lee Carsley respectively.

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A new strategy is pushing players through the age groups at an earlier age; for example, four Under-15s are regularly training and playing in the Under-18s side.