Riyad Mahrez makes personal phone call to Bernardo Silva over one Manchester City star | OneFootball

Bernardo Silva has revealed the nature and details of a recent personal phone call with former Manchester City teammate Riyad Mahrez.

The Portugal international has recently been appointed as Manchester City’s new captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne from the club on a free transfer, joining Napoli after a sensational 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.

After a difficult season that also saw Manchester City’s previous captain in Kyle Walker force an exit during the January transfer window, manager Pep Guardiola has taken drastic action when it came to his leadership group for the forthcoming campaign.

Opting to select the group of leaders personally, Bernardo Silva has been handed the captain’s armband, accompanied by a total of four senior players consisting of Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland.

And the responsibilities have started almost immediately for the midfielder, who this week has revealed of clear instructions handed to him to take care of one particular new signing completed by the club this summer.

Speaking to reporters from the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia this week, Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva spoke of a recent phone call he held with former teammate and close friend Riyad Mahrez concerning the club’s new signing, Rayan Ait-Nouri.

“Riyad Mahrez called me and told me to take care of him (Ait-Nouri). Riyad is a close friend, and we will help him,” Bernardo told reporters.

“He started training really well, he has a lot of talent and we hope he will help us a lot here.”

Rayan Ait-Nouri is one of four new faces to join Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of the brand new European campaign, arriving in time to play a role in the club’s FIFA Club World Cup challenge out in the United States.

Making their debuts in the group stage opener against Wydad AC, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders played a role in a 2-0 win over the Moroccan side and maintain a feel-good factor around the camp leading up to matchday two.

Ait-Nouri will be hopeful of securing his own debut with Pep Guardiola hinting at wholesale changes against Al Ain on Sunday night, while third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli will likely have to wait for more extreme circumstances before he sees competitive game-time.