Kevin de Bruyne is reportedly will replace Fernandinho as Manchester City captain following the 2022-23 season.
In last season, the Premier League champions selected Fernandinho as club captain following the departure of David Silva at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
With Fernandinho having left the Etihad Stadium over the summer, a new leader now needs to be chosen.
According to City manager Pep Guardiola, he thinks De Bruyne, who has been leading City during pre-season is a strong candidate ahead of the players’ vote the following week.
“I’m pretty sure Kevin will be as the oldest player here, the responsibility he takes on the pitch and in many cases off the pitch he will be a key role within the team, I’m pretty sure.” Guardiola said.
“I don’t pick. In the beginning I picked the fifth, now I don’t pick, they pick. It’s no question of favourites, what the team decide is perfect, what the staff decide I’m happy.” Guardiola added.
There are unnamed positions that are determined by in a successful team. De Bruyne is the number one star, but he is not clear to be the captain.
“They have to defend the team when they don’t agree with the manager. I love the captains being decided by them, not me. It belongs to them, in the locker room. I never vote. The only person who doesn’t vote is me.” Guardiola said.
“What they decide is perfect, not a problem. Fernandinho left an incredible legacy, how you have to behave in the locker room.” he added.
In their opening pre-season match, City defeated Mexican outfit Club America 2-1 courtesy of a first-half brace from De Bruyne
De Bruyne had been named as the 2021-22 Premier League Player of the Season. He scored 15 goals and managed seven assists in 29 games last season.
