Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has indicated that defender Ruben Dias is the primary candidate to be named the club’s next captain. The vacancy arose following the departure of Bernardo Silva, who has moved to Real Madrid. While Erling Haaland remains part of the leadership group, Maresca has effectively ruled him out for the captaincy due to specific tactical expectations.
Maresca prefers his team captain to be available for immediate tactical instructions on the touchline following a goal, a requirement that complicates the role for a prolific striker like Haaland, who netted 38 goals last season and has accumulated 162 goals over four years with the club. Explaining the decision, Maresca noted that if a player is busy celebrating a goal, they cannot simultaneously engage in tactical discussions. He emphasized that the captaincy is not about granting extra freedom, but rather expecting more responsibility and leadership from the individual compared to other squad members.
Currently, the club's leadership group is limited to Dias and Haaland. The status of Rodri, a World Cup-winning captain for Spain and a senior member of Pep Guardiola’s squad last season, remains uncertain amid reports of two bids from Barcelona. Maresca hinted at a potential exit for the midfielder, stating his intention to wait until the end of the transfer window before appointing two additional members to the leadership team. Potential candidates for these roles could include Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic, Gianluigi Donnarumma, or Marc Guehi.
Maresca is preparing for his first competitive match in charge, which takes place this Sunday against Arsenal in the Community Shield. The squad will feature new arrival Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. Maresca highlighted Anderson’s versatility, describing him as a holding midfielder who can also play as an attacking midfielder. The manager noted that he is young enough to improve as a No. 6 or an 8 arriving in the box, and that at Forest he was playing next to Ibrahim Sangare and with England he was playing alongside Declan Rice, showing he is capable of adapting to different game plans depending on the opponent.
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