As Manchester City venture into a new era under Enzo Maresca, we assess the options to make up the Italian's first-team leadership group off the back of exits for Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva.
This is a huge season for Phil Foden!
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It’s not only in the dugout where change can be expected at the Etihad Stadium, with senior and long-standing figures like John Stones and Nathan Ake having departed, alongside Rodri - whose move to FC Barcelona was confirmed on Tuesday evening..
The Blues are also set to appoint a sixth new captain in the last six seasons, with Bernardo Silva bringing his year-long stint with the armband to an end this summer as he moved on to Real Madrid.
With previous skippers in Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Kevin de Bruyne and Silva all gone, there is a leadership gulf in need of filling at Manchester City, with perhaps only Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland from last season’s captaincy group remaining for this term.
City Xtra will run through some of the potential options to fill the void left in the Enzo Maresca's squad’s leadership roles, as some new names look set to take on the senior positions.
Phil Foden
We’ll start with a player who has been much-touted to take a step up in responsibility this term – not least by the man himself.
This is no longer the Phil Foden who broke into Pep Guardiola’s first title-winning Manchester City side as a teenager. Now aged 26, the midfielder is the longest-serving player left in the squad, and admitted during the pre-season tour of Asia that his longevity means he ‘has to’ be a part of the captaincy group.
Foden led the side out in the opening friendly against Inter in Hong Kong, taking the armband ahead of other potential candidates we’ll consider on this list. With Enzo Maresca already having confirmed that he wants an English player in his pool of captains, it looks like the Stockport Iniesta is a safe bet to be included.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden is set to play a ‘key part’ in new head coach Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans next term, as per a recent report.cityxtra.co.ukManchester City’s Phil Foden is set to play a ‘key part’ in new head coach Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans next term, as per a recent report.
Enzo Maresca outlines Phil Foden plans after Manchester City show of faith with new contract
Josko Gvardiol
Such has been the turnover of the Manchester City squad since the post-treble-winning summer of 2023, Josko Gvardiol – who only joined from RB Leipzig the year after, and is still aged just 24 – has to now be considered one of the senior players available to Enzo Maresca.
Only five current players have been at the Etihad Stadium longer than the Croatian, and the sparkling talent he’s shown in his three City seasons to this point means he’s been a trusted lieutenant to Pep Guardiola, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2024/25.
If he can maintain such importance under Maresca, and is willing for that heightened squad status to be reflected in his leadership duties, inclusion in what’s likely to be a four-man group could be on the cards. If not this term, a new five-year deal signed by the defender this summer suggests he’ll be in contention for seasons to come.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Having fended off competition from the now-departed James Trafford for the no.1 spot, Donnarumma is the player on this list most assured of a starting spot in the coming season, which could play in his favour regarding a potential captaincy role.
The Italian may only be entering his second season at Manchester City, but became an immediately vocal presence upon his arrival last summer, showing both his leadership qualities and willingness to engage with supporters in his very first appearance, celebrating like a fan in the Manchester derby victory.
At 27 years old, Donnarumma still has at least a decade ahead of him in the game, but also already has 11 years as a professional behind him thanks to a remarkably early breakout at AC Milan in 2015. Few others in the squad can boast either his experience or stature in the game.
Manchester City are supporting and training closely with Gianluigi Donnarumma in attempting to guide the Italian towards better playing out and building from the back ahead of the new season under Enzo Maresca.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Plot Gianluigi Donnarumma Possession Plan to Combat Mistakes
Manchester City are supporting and training closely with Gianluigi Donnarumma in attempting to guide the Italian towards better playing out and building from the back ahead of the new season under Enzo Maresca.
Marc Guehi
Guehi has spent even less time in Manchester than Donnarumma, having only been signed from Crystal Palace in January this year. The defender took no time adapting to life at the Etihad though, and his importance in the second half of last campaign was evident as he featured in 20 of the 22 matches for which he was eligible.
The 26-year-old is a natural leader and has captained Chelsea at youth level, Crystal Palace at senior level – leading them to the first two trophies in their history in doing so – and even England in international football earlier this year. Although Abdukodir Khusanov is a magnificent defender in his own right, the influence Guehi had on the Uzbek was clear as the pair moulded a successful partnership last term.
With Dias and Gvardiol both back to fitness this term, it remains to be seen which combination of defenders Maresca prefers, which could have an influence on whether Guehi slots straight into the captaincy group. Another who has signed a long-term deal with the club though, the centre-back is sure to be a leader with or without the armband for some time to come.
Matheus Nunes
Perhaps a left-field suggestion to end the list, but Matheus Nunes’ rise at Manchester City has been so meteoric over the last 18 months, who’s to rule out another big leap in seniority for the converted right-back?
A popular figure in the squad even before his development into a key player in the defence, the Portuguese has been close with compatriots and leadership figures Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias in the past, and that standing could be an asset in winning support and respect from teammates.
Probably an outsider to be one of this season’s skippers, Nunes nonetheless took the captaincy in the second-half of the friendly against K-League All Stars in Seoul this summer, and could be an important character in the dressing room even if others take the leadership positions ahead of him.