- Premier League champions Manchester City have eight nominees for the top honour.
- United have been engaged in a cost-cutting exercise under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
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Manchester United asked rivals City if Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo could get a lift with their group of eight Ballon d’Or nominees, but were told the flight was full.
Mail Sport understands the Premier League champions have chartered a private jet to transport their large delegation to Paris for Monday night’s awards ceremony.
And in a move that may well surprise, it can be revealed that United asked their neighbors if they had space for their two hopefuls.
Unfortunately for the Old Trafford club, they were informed that there was no space on the flight and alternative arrangements had to be made.
United are in the midst of a series of cost-saving measures following the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group at the club earlier this year.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo will not fly to Paris on City plane
The Premier League champions have eight nominees, including Erling Haaland (pictured on Wednesday), and there is no place for their rivals.
It is understood that the prospect of sending two players on a private jet was not considered a good one in the current climate.
United is also believed to have been wary of its carbon footprint. Clubs have previously shared flights when players need to return from international obligations from places such as South America.
In the men’s section, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Rodri are competing for City, while in the women’s section, Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw are up there. In the fight for the Kopa Trophy, for the best player under 21 years of age, City’s Brazilian winger Savinho is nominated, along with Garnacho and Mainoo.
Arsenal also have four candidates in the men’s section: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba and one woman, Mariona Caldentey.
