Bernardo Silva Named Manchester City Captain Ahead of Their Club World Cup Opener

Bernardo Silva has been handed the captain's armband at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola personally making the call ahead of a season that might just be the midfielder’s last in sky blue.

In a departure from his usual approach of letting players and staff vote for their leaders, Guardiola took matters into his own hands this time by appointing Bernardo Silva as club captain. He also appointed Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland as vice-captains. It's the first time the City boss has made such a decision on his own, and it’s clear he wanted to stamp his authority after what he felt was a disappointing campaign last season. 

“I’m the manager this season, and for the first time in my career, I decided who would be my captain,” Guardiola said. “I didn’t like what happened last season. I decided this season. Sometimes I want to be the boss, and this season I decided to do it. So I chose the four captains, and at the end of this World Cup, maybe we will choose one or two more.” 

Bernardo, now 30, has been a key part of City’s dominance over the years. Since joining from Monaco in 2017, he’s made 404 appearances, scored 71 goals, and provided 72 assists. He's lifted six Premier League titles and helped the club conquer Europe with a Champions League win. But his contribution goes beyond stats—his tireless pressing, defensive work, and versatility have made him indispensable to Guardiola’s system. Despite some bumps in City's form last season, Bernardo stayed consistent, delivering eight goal contributions in 33 league appearances. His reliability and professionalism have earned him not just Guardiola’s trust, but now the responsibility to lead a squad packed with stars. 

Bernardo Silva opens up about his future

Speaking ahead of City’s Club World Cup opener against Wydad at Lincoln Financial Field, Silva was asked about his future. With just a year left on his contract, speculation about a move continues to swirl, but the Portuguese international kept things grounded. 

“I know what I’m going to do but it’s not the time to talk about that,” he said. “I’m very focused on my season. I’m very focused on performing well for Man City. When the time is due, I will talk about it. I have one year on my contract so obviously I can leave next season. This season will for sure be with Man City. I’m going to stay. I’ve had options in the past and this year, like last year, my option is to stay at Man City.” 

His promotion to captain comes as Kyle Walker, who wore the armband last year, finds himself out of the picture. Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, and although the move wasn’t made permanent, he hasn’t been included in City’s squad for the Club World Cup. 

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