Ruben Dias is the brightest candidate for the position of new captain of Manchester City after Bernardo Silva moved to Real Madrid.
Coach Enzo Maresca has not yet made a final decision, but currently Dias and Erling Haaland are the only two members of the old captain group who remain and are likely to receive the captain's armband.
Haaland is at a disadvantage for a rather special reason. Maresca wants the captain to be regularly present on the sidelines to exchange and make tactical adjustments after Man City scores. With a striker who scored 38 goals last season and has a total of 162 goals in 4 years wearing the Etihad Stadium shirt, Haaland is clearly not an ideal choice for this task.
The Italian strategist highly appreciates Dias' qualities and leadership ability, and emphasized that the captain's armband does not bring privilege but comes with greater responsibility.
During his time playing for this club, Ruben Dias has shown his qualities, both in terms of professional ability and leadership qualities. The important thing is that the captain and leaders must understand that they are chosen because I expect more from them.
Not because I give them more freedom or advantage. On the contrary, the leadership team and captains must show and contribute more than others" - Maresca said.
Rodri is also one of Man City's experienced players, but the future of the Spanish midfielder is being questioned as Barcelona is interested. Maresca's intention to add two more members to the leadership group also shows that he has considered the possibility of Rodri leaving.
Currently, Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland are the only two. But I want to wait until the transfer window ends before choosing two more people" - the Man City captain shared.
Potential candidates for the remaining two positions include Phil Foden, the player who has been with Man City's first team for the longest time, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy captain Marc Guehi, who used to hold the role of captain of Crystal Palace, and experienced midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Maresca will have his first official match as Man City coach when facing Arsenal in the English Super Cup. This could also be the debut of Elliot Anderson, a record contract worth 116 million pounds from Nottingham Forest.
Notably, Maresca sees Anderson as a defensive midfielder. In the context that Rodri is likely to leave Etihad, the English player may be tested in the number 6 position.
He is a defensive midfielder, but can also play in the attacking midfielder position. What is noteworthy about Elliot Anderson is that he is still young, so we can work and help him improve his ability to play in the 6th or 8th position, while regularly penetrating the penalty area.
At Forest, he plays alongside Ibrahim Sangare, and in the England national team, Declan Rice, both are players with good physique. However, I think in some matches, Anderson does not necessarily have to play alongside such a player. That depends on tactics and opponents" - Maresca added.
