Manchester City’s new captain has been confirmed following the departure of Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan left on a free for Barcelona after captaining City to a historic treble last season.
The German was City skipper for a season, following on from Fernandinho’s spell from 2019 to 2022.
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City do things a little differently and typically have a group of five captains nominated by their fellow players in a ballot which takes place every season.
Kevin De Bruyne wore the armband in City’s first league game of the season at Burnley before being forced off with a hamstring injury that required surgery.
Kyle Walker then assumed captain duties and lifted both the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
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On Sunday De Bruyne made his long-awaited return from the bench in the FA Cup against Huddersfield Town, registering an assist for Jeremy Doku in the 5-0 win.
Ruben Dias was captain for the game and immediately passed on the armband to De Bruyne when he entered the fray.
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However, according to the Manchester Evening News, De Bruyne has confirmed that Walker’s is City’s permanent captain.
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He will therefore serve as deputy to the right-back. Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva are also members of the captain clan.
De Bruyne leads by example and was seen encouraging City’s youngsters at the Etihad.
But speaking in the summer, he was unfazed about whether he wanted to be City’s captain.
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Speaking after the Community Shield penalty shoot-out defeat to Arsenal, he said: “If I get it, I get it. It’s not going to change anything I do for the club.
“This is my ninth year, I know the club inside out and people know whatever they ask of me, I’ll do.
“I’m not too worried. I try to do the same as always. It’s an honour if I get it and if not, it doesn’t matter.”
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