Bernardo Silva Appointed Manchester City Captain
In a strategic move, Pep Guardiola has appointed Bernardo Silva as the new captain of Manchester City, positioning him for what could potentially be his final season with the club. This decision comes as Silva, the 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder, has expressed uncertainty about his future at City, where his current contract expires in 2026. Originally brought in from Monaco in 2017, Silva has been linked with a return to his formative years at Benfica.
Leadership Decisions by Guardiola
Typically, Guardiola would allow players and staff to vote for the team captain; however, this year he took it upon himself to handpick Silva, along with vice-captains Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland. This choice reflects Guardiola’s desire to instill leadership while addressing issues from a troubling previous season, where he noted dissatisfaction with the team’s dynamics.
“I know what I’m going to do, but it’s not the time to talk about that,” Silva remarked, underlining his current focus on the upcoming season and contributing positively to Manchester City.
He acknowledged the possibility of departing after the season, emphasizing:
“I have one year on my contract, so obviously I can leave next season. I’ve opted to stay at Man City this year.”
Changes in Team Leadership
Silva’s ascension to captain comes after he was included in City’s leadership group last season. The decision to shift from Kyle Walker, who was captain just last year, follows Walker’s loan move to Milan. Despite the Italian club not pursuing a permanent deal, Walker has since been excluded from the squad headed to the Club World Cup.
Guardiola explained, “For the first time in my career, I decided who would be my captain. I didn’t like what happened last season; I wanted to assert my authority this time around. At the end of this World Cup, there may be room for one or two additional captains.”
Among the vice-captains, Haaland assumes this role for the first time, with Guardiola noting the importance of grooming him for possible future leadership. Having signed a decade-long contract in January, the manager believes Haaland has the potential to take on the captaincy as he matures within the team.
Guardiola stated, “Erling is still young, but he must begin to understand the responsibilities of a captain, as he is likely to be here for many more years.”
