Man City's huge call to make after De Bruyne exit - with long-term consequences
Manchester City will find a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch - but a replacement off it may be more difficult to find.
This article contains affiliate links, which means we will receive commission on any sale of products or services we write. Learn more
Manchester City are looking for their sixth permanent captain in six years after Kevin De Bruyne announced his departure just three months after finally getting his hands on the armband full-time.
De Bruyne was the popular choice among fans when Ilkay Gundogan left in 2023, but Kyle Walker surprisingly beat him to it in the squad vote. Walker lifted the Super Cup, Club World Cup and Premier League title next season but jumped ship in January to promote vice-captain De Bruyne to the top job.
City have a captain's group of five, later expanded to six with the re-signing of Gundogan, and then reduced back to five with Walker's loan exit. If he departs permanently, there could be two vacant spots in the leadership group next season, three if Gundogan doesn't stay.
So the squad rebuild will extend to the captains and the likelihood is that Ruben Dias (currently third captain) and Rodri (fourth) will step up to replace De Bruyne next season. Bernardo Silva is the final captain and could compete for the armband if the summer 2025 vote reshuffles the hierarchy.
Then there is the question of who joins the captain's group. If it was on longevity and seniority City could call upon the likes of John Stones, Nathan Ake or Manu Akanji.
Or do City promote players they think could be a captain in future? Recently Pep Guardiola made a rare intervention into the captain decision-making that he exclusively leaves to players, when he appointed Erling Haaland captain for a game with none of his six leaders in the starting XI.
Guardiola's justification was that Haaland had just committed to another nine years at City and the manager sees him as a leader in future. If Haaland is a future captain, then the next vote could see him join the group ahead of time.
And likewise - if Phil Foden is to spend his career at the Etihad and is also a natural successor to De Bruyne, could he be an unlikely captain contender?
The squad must decide which direction to go and who leads the team into their new era. Whether Dias, Rodri, Haaland or someone else - the next captain could be a more long-term pick than the last few legends. That makes it an even more important decision.
Manchester City wrapped up the 2023/24 season with a fourth successive Premier League title, but they missed out on another Treble with defeat in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. It's now time for Pep Guardiola and co to turn their attention to the transfer window.
Our MEN team of City experts will be on top of all the goings-on at the Etihad this summer and beyond, and you can get the latest updates and inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 40,000 (and growing!) band of Blues fans who are following our WhatsApp channel.
--
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you donāt like our community, you can check out any time you like. If youāre curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Here at the Manchester Evening News, weāre dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you donāt miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
Article continues belowYou can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the dayās biggest stories.
And finally, if youād rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Talking City podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.
JAMES āArgā Argent has rented out his sprawling north London mansion for more than Ā£4,000 a month. The Towie star, 37, has moved out of the detached five-bedroom property but has decideā¦
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
JAMES āArgā Argent has rented out his sprawling north London mansion for more than Ā£4,000 a month. The Towie star, 37, has moved out of the detached five-bedroom property but has decideā¦
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
RUSSELL MARTIN is emerging as a shock contender to lead Leicester back to the Premier League. Martin, 39, was axed by relegation rivals Southampton but his work in the Championship at Saints caughtā¦
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Kevin De Bruyne has already announced his imminent exit from Manchester City and might potentially be joined by two Premier League stars should he complete a move to the Saudi Pro League
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Both Broadway Boy and Celebre d'Allen were treated on course after the Grand National
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
He's pushing everyone away.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
THIS is the grand Ā£6.75million mansion PPE tycoons Sarah and Richard Stoute bought on the back of their Ā£1.8billion government Covid deal. The eight-bedroom pile they snapped up mortgage-free boastā¦
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Liverpool will look to move one step closer to the Premier League title with a win against Fulham but Mohamed Salah could set a record to further add to his legacy in the top-flight
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Actress Olivia Munn wondered this week if celebrities going on a all-female space trip later this month is the best thing they could be doing with their lives.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The 2025 Grand National saw Broadway Boy and Celebre DāAllen fall midway and receive extensive treatment from vets and one of the riders has now been hit with a suspension for his actions
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery's side defeat Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Broadway Boy and Celebre d'Allen were both injured at the Grand National
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Grand National saw 40 horses run at Aintree with 16 finishing the race in total and there were a few heavy falls with Broadway Boy and Celebre DāAllen both needing further treatment from vets
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
JASON TINDALL has opened up on his title as the Premier Leagueās āmost irritating manā. Tindall, 47, was in the dugout alongside Eddie Howe as Newcastle won their first major domeā¦
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.