“Of course I want it!” – Manchester City star stakes claim for captain’s armband ahead of first-team vote

Manchester City are set to vote on their brand new five-man leadership group in the coming days ahead of the remainder of the 2023/24 season.

A new vote on the club’s official captain will also be included after Ilkay Gundogan exited the club earlier this summer, bringing an end to a seven-year stay in Sky Blue by joining FC Barcelona on a free transfer.

In August 2022, Manchester City voted on their five-man leadership group that would ultimately go on to make history by guiding the squad to a third successive Premier League crown and a maiden Champions League title as part of a remarkable treble triumph.

Last season, headed by Ilkay Gundogan as club captain, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Rodri made up the remaining four names in the senior leadership group, with the Belgian largely acting as vice-captain during the season.

Now speaking on the subject of potentially becoming Manchester City’s mainstay club captain, Kyle Walker explained this week as part of an in-depth conversation with the media, “It is an honour and a privilege, of course I want it.

“If you can’t pass on your knowledge and life experiences on or off the field I shouldn’t be playing at a great club like this and especially the last game at Sheffield United I made the mistake and wanted to rectify that and I did that.

“Hopefully the lads feels I’m a certain type of leader. I’m probably not as straight down the line as Vinny [Kompany] but I feel you have to manage the group of lads you’ve got in front of you in the way that you feel is best.”

He continued, “I try and make the lads feel as much part of the team and as welcome as quickly as possible and that is down to the manager from the side of the pitch where he makes them understand the way we are playing and the philosophy. That’s down to him. My job is to make sure that the team stick together through good and bad moments and as a group we stick together

“I am relishing the opportunity. I am very grateful and hopefully I am stand in captain until Kevin [De Bruyne] comes back or I get the official that is up to the lads and staff.”

The Belgium international midfielder is expected to be ruled out until at least early 2024 after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury sustained against Burnley in the opening Premier League game of the season.

While De Bruyne is expected to be present within the Manchester City camp in the meantime, players may feel they require an ever-present both on and off the pitch when it comes to voting for their new club captain.

The current understanding is that Kyle Walker stands alongside Ruben Dias for the club’s armband, however the England international has the advantage of being more experienced in the Premier League and spending longer at the club thus far.