Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have decided upon their new club captain ahead of the 2025/26 season, following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne to Napoli.
The Belgium international saw his career at the Etihad Stadium come to an end following the conclusion of the last campaign after club officials opted not to offer renewed terms to the 33-year-old.
As such, De Bruyne’s contractual agreement was left to expire and the midfield great was free to negotiate with a variety of teams throughout the game to decide on his next steps, ultimately believing that his future was to remain at the summit of European football.
Linking-up with Romelu Lukaku, Scott McTominay, and manager Antonio Conte in Italy, Kevin De Bruyne penned an initial two-year deal with Napoli, leaving a vacancy in Manchester City’s attacking midfield ranks and a free captain’s armband.
And while many usually expect Manchester City’s leadership group and subsequent club captain to wait until late August or early September before being announced, a clear change of strategy has taken place this month.
As first reported by MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Bernardo Silva has now been appointed as Manchester City’s new club captain for the forthcoming 2025/26 season after manager Pep Guardiola opted to change internal policy by deciding on the leadership group himself.
While Manchester City’s first-team players and staff usually vote on the matter after the conclusion of the summer transfer window, Guardiola has opted to personally hand the armband to the Portugal international.
Standing alongside the midfield mainstay at the Etihad Stadium within the club’s captaincy group for the forthcoming season is central defender Ruben Dias, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, and lead striker Erling Haaland.
speaking on the subject of his captaincy group during a press conference this week, Pep Guardiola told reporters, “I am the manager, and for the first time in my career, I decided who will be my captains.
“I didn’t like what happened last season, and I decided this season who will represent the team.”
Guardiola continued, “I decided this season, sometimes I want to be the boss… And this season I decided to do it. So I chose the four captains, and at the end of the tour, this [Club] World Cup, maybe we’ll choose one or two more.”
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