Once again City owner Sheikh Mansour has splashed the cash this summer, investing heavily on Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, with the prospect of a hefty bid for Samir Nasri likely to be lodged before the Premier League gets under way in 10 days' time.
Icon: Cantona has warned Man City they must begin to invest in youth like United
Yet manager Roberto Mancini complained towards the end of last season at the lack of players with first-team potential in the City academy, which was a remarkable statement given how productive the Blues had previously been at youth level.
And Cantona, back in Manchester to take charge of the New York Cosmos side that will face United in Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on Friday, believes it will become a massive handicap unless that famed youth policy is restored to his former glory.
'United are the best team. I don't know how City work. Maybe they are working on the academy.
'But today they want to spend millions to buy players to build a team.
'They have been successful because they won the FA Cup but if they only want to do that, they will not be as strong as Manchester United.
'United work on the long term, with young talent.'
Forget youth: Aguero (left) and Clichy have joined Man City this summer
Cantona also launched a broadside at Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, who have this summer both criticised the lifestyle in Manchester.
'They don't like the place?' It depends upon where they come from. If they come from Milan, maybe. Also it depends why they have come.
'I had a great time here and a great time in the city but the most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world, with the best players in the world.
'I was a professional player. I didn't try to find a city to enjoy it. The greatest time you can have is on the pitch.'
Follow our lead: Cantona, seen her celebrating a strike against City has warned them to stop their lavish spending
And, 14 years after leaving, so abruptly hardly anyone had the opportunity to say goodbye, Cantona is back, the manager of a team in which huge investment and PR could make them Major League Soccer's 20th - and best known - team.
'I didn't want to come back like any other ex-player. I wanted to come back with a special club. We have a lot of things to do. We want to do them well.'We want to win things and build things. We want to work on the long term and try to be one of the best teams in the USA and maybe help, through our young talent, the national team to win the World Cup just as Barcelona helped Spain last year.
'I know all clubs want young players. But we are special, and better than the others.'
High praise: Cantona remains in awe of former boss Ferguson
Cantona's managerial rival will be Sir Alex Ferguson, the man who asked Martin Edwards to throw in the Frenchman's name during a random phone call with then Leeds chairman Bill Fotherby in 1992, resulting in a staggering transfer that changed the face of English football.
'Maybe I will die before Sir Alex. I am sure he will be on the bench forever. It is his life.
'He was a good player. He has been a great manager for Manchester United.'
Cantona certainly feels Ferguson will be more difficult to replace than any of the stellar talents who have left United during the Scot's incredible reign, which in November will have reached 25 years.
And that number includes himself and Scholes, whose retirement will be honoured on Friday.
Admiration: Cantona (centre) was a fan of Scholes
'I knew Paul when he was young. He started here with us.
'He has been a great player. He could play anywhere, midfield, up front, he could score goals, make them, defend, tackle. He could do anything.
'He is a great player. I am very proud of him. But you can replace any player, especially at a club like Manchester United, with a great manager like Ferguson.
'When a player leaves, you think the club won't win any more. But they still do.
'They have a great history and they work a lot every day so any player can be replaced.
'Paul is still a great player. But I left, (Cristiano) Ronaldo left, (Mark) Hughes left, (David) Beckham left, and United are still one of the best clubs in the world.'
?Berbatov wanted by PSG as French giants prepare ?18m move for Manchester United starSven ends Hargreaves chase after revealing ex-United crock ignored himSneijder is brilliant! Scholes hails Dutch ace as United close in on ?30m swoopAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinionAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail