Manchester United rule out joining expanding NextGen league

Internazionale's youth-team coach, Andrea Stramaccioni, is thrown into the air by his players after they won the NextGen Series final by beating Ajax at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road. Stramaccioni is now first-team manager (AP)

Manchester United have ruled out the prospect of joining the expanding NextGen European Under-19 league.

London duo Arsenal and Chelsea have confirmed they will participate next season, when the league expands from 16 to 24 teams.

It takes to seven the number of British teams involved and means United are the only member of England's elite not to commit to the event given Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham were all involved in the debut season.

And despite the obvious attraction of having United featuring alongside Barcelona and Inter Milan, who beat Ajax in this season's final, and the added competition for their Under-19 group, Press Association Sport understands the Old Trafford hierarchy have already decided not to get involved.

The Red Devils will continue to look for extra competition away from domestic fare, though, and earlier this month had a successful run to the final of the Dallas Super Cup, where they were beaten by Brazilian outfit Coritiba 2-1, after having two men sent off.

PA