Enzo Maresca intends to finalize his leadership team at Manchester City only after the transfer window closes, due to ongoing uncertainties about his squad.
Last season’s captain, Bernardo Silva, has already departed the club, and Rodri might soon follow suit as Barcelona considers another bid for the Spanish midfielder. This would leave just Rúben Dias and Erling Haaland from the former leadership group.
Notably, Maresca did not mention Rodri when discussing his inability to name captains yet.
“Currently, it’s Rúben and Erling, and I want to wait until the end of the transfer window to select two more,” he stated.
Maresca has raised doubts about the likelihood of Haaland taking on the captaincy, considering that he prefers to communicate tactical instructions during goal celebrations, which Haaland typically leads.
For now, Rúben Dias appears to be the leading candidate for the captaincy, having been part of the leadership team since 2021.
“Rúben has demonstrated his leadership qualities throughout his time at this club,” Maresca remarked.
“It’s essential for the captain and leaders to recognize that their role comes with higher expectations. They are not given more freedom; rather, they are expected to contribute more than others.”
If Rodri departs, City might revisit an interest in Enzo Fernández, even though Chelsea’s self-imposed deadline for bids has passed as of Friday, and he currently serves as a leader at Stamford Bridge.
Additionally, Maresca has several in-house candidates, including former Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden, all of whom have shown interest in taking on more responsibility.
In other news, the Italian head coach has indicated that teenage winger Ryan McAidoo will remain at Manchester City this season, having impressed during preseason.
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Maresca described the 18-year-old as “the kind of winger I love,” after seeing his standout performance in a friendly against Inter Milan, emphasizing the need to find a “suitable path” for the young player.
Amid ongoing speculation linking fellow winger Savinho with a move to Tottenham, McAidoo now appears set to remain at Manchester to advance his development.
“For him, the best option is to stay with us, to learn and be around the first team on a daily basis,” Maresca explained. “He needs to be smart and learn from Antoine [Semenyo] and Jérémy [Doku]. When I say learn, it’s not just about dribbling; it’s about working hard, as young players can sometimes lose motivation when they think they are ready before they truly are.”