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IIE DIGITAL DESK : Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has officially been named the club’s new captain by Pep Guardiola—the first time the manager has directly appointed a captain at City, rather than relying on the team vote. Silva described the role as “probably one of the biggest honours of my career,” reflecting both personal pride and professional humility.

At 30, Silva begins what is expected to be his ninth season at City wearing the captain’s armband. Guardiola’s decision follows a period of leadership upheaval—including Kyle Walker’s loan departure to Milan—and underscores the club’s evolving direction. Silva acknowledged the honour, stating, “We went through a lot of fantastic moments and some disappointments as well. All that experience, I will try to pass it to the younger guys”.

Silva emphasized that leadership is a collective responsibility within the squad: “It’s not about one guy…it’s about each one of us being our own leader and helping the guy next to us…and I’m counting on Rúben, Rodri, Erling [Haaland] and all the guys to help me” .He underlined the strength of Manchester City’s leadership trio—Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland—as vital collaborators on and off the pitch .

Silva’s captaincy debut came with a commanding 5–2 victory over Juventus in the Club World Cup group stage in Orlando, propelling City into the Round of 16 . He praised the team's performance as a clear sign of getting back to top form: “It shows that we’re improving, we’re coming back to the levels and to the standards that we got people used to at this club… it’s a good sign for next season” .

The win over Juventus followed a disappointing previous season where expectations weren't met. Silva acknowledged the setback: “What happened last year was quite disappointing for all of us. We want to change, we want to be better” . He believes the current resurgence, including fresh squad additions and core returning leaders, bodes well for a title push .

Acknowledging the club’s recent infusion of youth, with signings like Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki, and Marmoush, Silva highlighted the importance of integrating this new generation: “It’s part of life… the club always finds new solutions… we have new blood… it’s up to us, the older ones, to give them the right path”.

As City prepare to face Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup round-of-16, Silva’s leadership will be tested on a global stage.His role now extends beyond the pitch: integrating youth talent, restoring the city's winning identity, and guiding the team through high-pressure fixtures and campaigns.

By appointing Bernardo Silva as captain, Guardiola has placed the armband on a player known for his technical prowess, tactical insight, and unwavering determination. Silva embraces the role as a collective leadership endeavour—guided by senior teammates—as Manchester City seek to bounce back from last season and reaffirm their pursuit of silverware.