Manchester City shuffle leadership group as first-team star promoted to vice-captain role | OneFootball

The leadership group within Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad has been shuffled in order after Kyle Walker’s exit to AC Milan during the January transfer window.

The England international dramatically brought an end to his time with Manchester City mid-season after a challenging opening months in the ongoing campaign both personally and as a collective within the Etihad Stadium dressing.

Having fielded interest from across Europe and in the Middle-East, the decision was taken from Walker’s side to remain at the top of European football and take on a short-term loan deal with AC Milan, who have a low-cost option to buy in the summer.

But with that move also came a vacancy at Manchester City in the club’s leadership structure, with Kyle Walker voted in by his teammates to retain the captain’s armband for another season, and his exit has forced a reshuffle.

Pep Guardiola confirmed earlier this season that Walker had been named club captain once again, accompanied by Kevin De Bruyne in the vice-captain role, and supported by Ruben Dias, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan in the wider leadership group structure.

Now, as revealed by The Athletic’s Sam Lee, Ruben Dias has been promoted into the role of second or vice-captain, behind De Bruyne – who is now Manchester City’s mainstay club captain following Kyle Walker’s exit for AC Milan.

Manchester City’s recruitment staff are fond of bringing in players who hold leadership characteristics within their game, and a confidence to speak out on matters in a group environment.

That was further showcased in the club’s recruitment of Vitor Reis from Palmeiras, after the 19-year-old revealed to the club’s official website upon joining the Etihad Stadium side last month that he has always found leadership characteristics within himself.

“Since a very young age, since the Under-11s, I was a captain so it’s very natural for me to have that leadership,” Reis told club reporters. “I love speaking to everyone and to help on the pitch in any way, so it was very natural for me.”

Boyhood Manchester City fan and superstar striker, Erling Haaland also adopted the captaincy during pre-season against Celtic last summer, telling club media after the game in the USA, “A proud moment for me, and I think we’ve got many leaders in this team.

“There’s only one wearing the band, but there’s many leaders on the pitch in different ways. A proud moment.”