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.

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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 has not looked back.

"I was in between teams. Everton, United, City and I was at City and I didn’t like it at the start," he admitted. "I went to United and I liked it at United because all they did was play mini games and it wasn’t really like proper training.

"But my mum got advice from those who have been in football and asked what would benefit me more and they said to go to City because they did proper training sessions to help the player technically and individually. So I ended up signing for City a year after joining."

Fast forward to the present day, and Simpson-Pusey looks set to start in City's FA Youth Cup final against Leeds on Friday at the Etihad - with more than just the trophy on his mind.

"I feel like being in the final for the Youth Cup you are remembered in a way because it is such a big tournament in England," he says. "It’s inspiring to see all the previous City players [who have won the Youth Cup] playing first team football like Taylor [Harwood-Bellis], Cole Palmer, all those, it’s inspiring.

"The aim is to win the game but after that is the thought - being at City and people knowing you were part of the team that won the Youth Cup, it is a big thing to say."

Simpson-Pusey describes himself as a ball-playing centre-back who also loves to defend. When City defenders are expected to bring the ball out and invert further upfield, Simpson-Pusey is happy to oblige and is enjoying learning the new position. But the player that first comes to mind for a role model couldn't be further from the City school of defending.

"I feel like because I am at City and we are a very ball-playing team and we have possession for most of the game," he explained. "In everyone’s head, as a defender we always think about the ball first. Defending is probably the last thing on our mind but I like defending so I take extra care.

"When you make a clutch one-on-one tackle and you win the ball back as the last man it gives you a buzz. It’s like scoring a goal but not scoring a goal. I am always ready to defend. I don’t mind heading the ball. A lot of people don’t want to head the ball, I don’t mind it as long as I am not conceding a goal.

"Growing up I used to watch Sergio Ramos because I like his aggression. I have been watching Ruben Dias, he is such a good leader and is aggressive on and off the ball and John Stones because of the way he plays."

City will need that aggression and love for defending when they play the biggest game of their careers in the Youth Cup final. And if they win, they'll certainly write their names in club history like Simpson-Pusey predicts.