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City Xtra 10h ago
Manchester City rejected an approach from Manchester United over Ballon d’Or travel arrangements
Source:City Xtra

An approach from Manchester United over travel arrangements to and from the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris was rejected by Manchester City, according to reports.

On a night when Manchester City stormed to the forefront of the footballing world once again, it was Rodri who made history for the four-time successive Premier League champions by becoming the club's first-ever recipient of the Ballon d'Or award.

The 28-year-old in turn became the first defensive midfielder to claim the Ballon d'Or trophy since German football legend Lothar Matthaus in 1990, defeating competition from a host of names particularly within the Real Madrid squad.

Such was the surprise and anger within the Madrid camp at Rodri's victory over Vinicius Jr that the La Liga giants boycotted attending the event, leaving nobody to pick up awards for Men's Coach of the Year, Men's Club of the Year, and Kylian Mbappe's Gerd Muller Trophy victory.

But the stand offs do not stop there, as Manchester City themselves were at the centre of events away from the ceremony itself, having fielded a request from rivals Manchester United to catch a ride on their chartered jet to and from the French capital.

That is according to the information of MailSport's Mike Keegan, who reveals that Manchester United had asked City if Kopa Trophy-nominated Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo could board the club's flight to the Ballon d'Or on Monday, only to be told it was full.

As such, Manchester United were forced to make their own arrangements to and from the awards ceremony in the French capital, on the same day that Erik ten Hag was sacked by the club and had immediately boarded his own private jet to Amsterdam in the early afternoon.

Pep Guardiola has already been handed opportunity to offer his reaction to Rodri's triumph in the Ballon d'Or ceremony this year, as he addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the club's Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham.

"What can I say?! First of course, congratulate him and all his family and dear friends," Guardiola said. "It's incredible news for him and of course for all of us, for all Man City, our fans - we are SO proud of him!"

Guardiola continued, "We could never imagine years ago that one player received this prestigious award, we are so delighted to be part of it, to share it with him.

"Hopefully it can give him this energy to recover well for next season to be with us again!"