"Bernardo Silva has been named Manchester City captain for the 2025-2026 season!" This announcement, which, given the Portuguese's seniority, having been with the City since 2017, comes as no surprise. The real novelty behind this news lies in his appointment: for the first time in his nearly twenty-year career, Pep Guardiola himself chose him. Typically, the Catalan left the choice of the armband to his dressing room, in an internal vote. So why did the three-time Champions League winner choose a group of captains, consisting of Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, during this offseason? "I didn't like what happened last season... Sometimes I want and feel I have to be the boss, so I decided to do it," he explained following his team's disappointing results in 2024/2025. The opportunity therefore to "take back control" and empower his senior players in a renewed squad for the next season. A message heard by the new captain, following his appointment: "The direction of the team does not rest on one person alone. I will need the help of Ruben, Rodri, Erling and all the guys to achieve our objectives".
Brief
By appointing Bernardo Silva, Pep Guardiola has chosen his captain for the first time in his long career / ©Icon Sport