Manchester City have shuffled their captaincy group, with Ilkay Gundogan being promoted to be Fernandinho’s vice-captain.
Kevin de Bruyne has taken a step back from the number two role and is now fourth in the pecking order, with Ruben Dias stepping up to number three.
City have a group of five “captains” and the squad and backroom staff vote for the leadership group, with Fernandinho garnering overwhelming support in the wake of Vincent Kompany ’s departure in 2019.
Dias captained the side in last night’s 6-3 win over RB Leipzig, with both Fernandinho and Gundogan starting the game on the subs’ bench.
And Gundogan captained the team in the three previous games - wins over Leicester, Arsenal and Norwich.
The 30-year-old Germany international was Pep Guardiola’s first signing as City manager, and one of the longest-serving players on the Blues’ books.
Only Fernandinho, De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling have been members of the senior squad for longer than Gundogan.
