Pep Guardiola has taken the unprecedented step of personally selecting Manchester City's captains for the 2025-26 season, marking the first time in his managerial career he has made this decision himself.
"I am the manager, and for the first time in my career, I decided who will be my captains," Guardiola said at a press conference ahead of City's Club World Cup opener against Wydad AC in Philadelphia.
The decision comes after Kyle Walker's controversial exit midway through last season after he was appointed captain by his teammates.
The former captain joined AC Milan on loan in January after losing his starting position.
Kyle Walker left Manchester City in January to join AC Milan on loan
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"I didn't like what happened last season, and I decided this season who will represent the team," Guardiola explained, referencing Walker's departure.
Walker had been chosen as captain by the players, but sought a move to Italy during the campaign.
The 35-year-old defender has since returned from his loan spell and been told to find a new club.
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Pep Guardiola said he 'didn't like what happened' with the captaincy decision last year
|Manchester City
Guardiola's comments regarding Walker's captaincy come at a time when his marriage has been described "as bad as it's ever been".
The Daily Mail recently said their relationship was on the brink of collapsing.
Walker and wife Annie hoped starting afresh in Italy would lead to them healing but it has apparently only widened the distance between the pair.
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The England star was seen partying at a Milan nightclub just a day after Annie and their four children flew out to join him in the Italian city.
Guardiola has named Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland as his new captaincy quartet following the departures of Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, who recently joined Napoli.
"Sometimes I want to be the boss. And this season, I decided to do it," Guardiola stated. "So I chose the four captains, and at the end of the tour, this World Cup, maybe we'll choose one or two more."
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Erling Haaland has been chose as one of the four captains for next season at Manchester City
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The potential additions could include Ilkay Gundogan, who previously captained City during their treble-winning season before returning to the club after a year at Barcelona.
Guardiola offered detailed reasoning for his selections, particularly highlighting Haaland's inclusion at just 24 years old.
"He's so young but has to start to learn what it means to be a captain, because he will be here hopefully many, many years.
"Sooner or later, he will take that position as first one. When you have Bernardo, Ruben, Rodri plus Gundogan an unbelievable captain in the year of the Treble he will learn!"
Guardiola emphasised that effective captaincy means prioritising the team above all else.
"You have to ask all the time, 'What is best for the team?' When you decide what is best for the team, you never make a mistake never, ever."