Overview

• Pep Guardiola for the first time chose the captaincy himself, breaking with tradition by appointing Bernardo Silva as skipper.
• Silva, whose contract runs until 2026, confirmed he will stay for the coming season but said he may leave once his deal expires.
• Erling Haaland, Rodri and Ruben Dias were named vice-captains to blend emerging talent with established experience.
• New signings Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders made their debuts in the Club World Cup as City looks to strengthen squad depth.
• Manchester City aims to rebound from a trophyless 2024-25 campaign with revamped on-field leadership and fresh reinforcements.