Bernardo Silva has been named the new Manchester City captain ahead of the Club World Cup, stepping into the role as he enters the final year of his contract. The Portuguese playmaker, who joined City in 2017, has long been a vital figure in the squad and is regarded as one of the most trusted players by the coaching staff. His leadership role is symbolic as City prepares to challenge for the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States.
City will begin their campaign against Wydad at Lincoln Financial Field, with kick-off scheduled for midday local time. Despite ongoing speculation about his future, Silva confirmed that he will remain with the club for the duration of the upcoming season, though he acknowledged the possibility of moving on when his contract ends in June 2026.
“I know what I’m going to do but it’s not the time to talk about that,” Silva explained. “I’m very focused on my season and 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.”
As he prepares to lead the squad, Silva also addressed the impact of the demanding football schedule. He noted that the players have adapted to the rigorous calendar, which has become standard in recent years. “We know what the schedule is like. It is what it is, we’re very used to that. It’s been a few years that it’s like this,” he said.
Reflecting on the significance of the Club World Cup, Silva emphasized the players’ commitment to treating it with the importance it deserves. “It’s a beautiful competition. Obviously, the amount of games – we’ve already talked about this – but now that we’re here and it’s such an important competition with teams from all around the world, we’re going to respect it a lot and we’re going to give our best to go as far as possible – which is to win the competition.”
The midfielder also mentioned that there had been a brief period of rest following the Premier League season. “The guys that went to Portugal – between the end of the Premier League and the beginning of our training with Portugal, we had five days which was OK. And now we have one-and-a-half which is also nice to see the family. Maybe we’re going to have some time after this.”
With his future uncertain beyond this season, Silva remains focused on the immediate challenge of guiding City through one of their most ambitious campaigns to date.
