Manchester City have named Bernardo Silva as their new captain in what could be his final campaign at the club. Guardiola allows his players and staff to select the captain but he decided to go against the norm and named Silva as the leader of the side after a trophyless campaign. Along with Silva, Guardiola also named Rodri, Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland as the vice-captains.
Silva’s contract at the club will end in 2026 and he has hinted that he may not extend his contract at the club. The midfielder, who joined from AS Monaco in 2017, has been linked with a move back to his boyhood club Benfica.
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“I know what I’m going to do, but it’s not the time to talk about that,” said Silva. “I’m very focused on my season. I’m very focused on performing well for Man City. When the time is due I will talk about it.
“I have one year on my contract so obviously I can leave next season. I’ve had options in the past and this year, like last year, and this year my option is to stay at Man City,” said Silva.
Why Guardiola chose his new captain
Guardiola explained why he decided to pick the new skipper as he was unhappy with a few things last season. Last year, Kyle Walker was selected as the captain but the defender was shipped out on loan to AC Milan during the January transfer window.
“I’m the manager this season, for the first time in my career, I decided who would be my captain,” said Guardiola. “I didn’t like what happened last season. 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 this World Cup, maybe we will choose one or two more.”
Guardiola also said that he sees Haaland becoming the captain of City soon.
“Erling Haaland is so young, but he has to start to learn what it means to be a captain, because he will be here hopefully many, many years,” he said. “Sooner or later, he will take that position as the first one.”
City are all set to start their FIFA Culb World Cup campaign on June 18.