Bernardo Silva has been appointed Manchester City&rsquo;s new captain by manager Pep Guardiola, potentially marking his final season at the club. The Portuguese midfielder, who joined from AS Monaco in 2017, has been central to City&rsquo;s success over the years and remains under contract until 2026.
However, the 29-year-old has hinted at a possible exit, with a return to Benfica &mdash; his boyhood club &mdash; on the horizon.
&ldquo;I know what I'm going to do, but it's not the time to talk about that,&rdquo; said Silva. &ldquo;I'm focused on this season with Man City. When the time comes, I&rsquo;ll speak.&rdquo;
Silva added, &ldquo;I have one year left on my contract, so yes, I could leave next season. I had offers in the past, but this year my choice is to stay.&rdquo;
Joining Silva in the leadership group are Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Erling Haaland as vice-captains &mdash; a blend of experienced core and future leaders. Guardiola, breaking from tradition, handpicked the leaders himself.
&ldquo;For the first time, I chose the captain,&rdquo; he revealed. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t happy with how it went last season. Sometimes, I have to be the boss.&rdquo;
Last year, Kyle Walker was named captain but was loaned out to AC Milan mid-season. Though he has returned, Walker is not part of the squad currently preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, starting June 18.
Guardiola also praised Haaland&rsquo;s growing leadership. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s still young but must learn what being a captain means. He&rsquo;ll eventually be the first choice.&rdquo;
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Bernardo Silva Named Man City Captain for 2025 Season

Guardiola picks Silva as new skipper; Haaland, Rodri, Dias named vice-captains ahead of Club WC

Bernardo Silva Named Man City Captain for 2025 Season

Guardiola picks Silva as new skipper; Haaland, Rodri, Dias named vice-captains ahead of Club WC

June 18, 2025 | 23:50 IST