Dias Leads in Manchester City Captain Race as Decision Delayed Until Summer Window Closes

Manchester City coach Maresca has made it clear that he will wait until the summer transfer window is completely closed before officially announcing the team's captain for the new season. The reason is simple: the current squad changes are not yet finalized, and any hasty decision could be disrupted by subsequent player movements.

Last season's captain Bernardo Silva has already bid farewell to the Etihad, and Rodri could follow suit. Sources reveal that Barcelona are preparing a new round of offers for the Spanish midfield core. If Rodri does transfer, then only Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland remain from the previous leadership group.

Interestingly, when Maresca spoke about being unable to confirm the captain at this stage, he did not include Rodri in consideration. He said bluntly: 'At the moment, only Ruben and Erling. I plan to wait until after the transfer window closes to select the other two leaders.'

However, Maresca seems to have reservations about Haaland as captain, because he is accustomed to calling the captain over during goal celebrations to discuss tactical arrangements — a part that is often led by the star striker. At least for now, this gives Portuguese defender Dias an advantage in the race for the captain's armband, as he has been part of the team's leadership since 2021.

'Ruben's time at Manchester City has fully demonstrated his leadership qualities as a player,' Maresca assessed. 'The key for the captain and leaders is to understand that I chose them because I have higher expectations of them. That doesn't mean I give them more freedom or privileges. On the contrary, the leadership team and captain must contribute more and show more than others.'

If Rodri eventually leaves, Manchester City may reconsider bringing in Enzo Fernandez, although any deadline set by Chelsea for offers expired last Friday. The Argentine midfielder is currently a member of the leadership team at Stamford Bridge.

However, Maresca is not short of internal options, including former Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden, who has expressed a desire to step up.

Meanwhile, the Italian coach also revealed that teenage winger Ryan McAidoo will stay at Manchester City this season, as he has been one of the 'real surprises' in pre-season. Related reports also mentioned the reason for the Community Shield being held in Cardiff instead of Wembley, the 2026 Premier League summer transfer dynamics, and news that Barcelona will make another offer for Rodri.

After McAidoo's impressive performance in the friendly against Inter Milan, Maresca praised the 18-year-old as 'the kind of winger I like' and said the club needs to find the 'right development path' for the youngster. With rumors surrounding another winger, Savinho, and Tottenham continuing to swirl, McAidoo now appears set to stay in Manchester to continue his development.

'For him, the best option is to stay with us, learn every day and integrate into the first team,' Maresca said. 'Work hard to stay smart, learn from Antoine (Semenyo) and Jeremy (Doku). When I say learn, I don't mean how to dribble — it's about working hard, because young players can encounter difficulties. They might think they are ready, but in reality they are not, and then stop working.'