Raheem Sterling has revealed he is one of the leaders in the Manchester City dressing room despite not having the captain's armband.
The departure of Vincent Kompany to Anderlecht this summer has left a vacant spot in Pep Guardiola's leadership group and the captaincy free.
David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne are the favourites to be given the armband next season and Sterling admitted he is not too fussed about being considered for the role.
"It’s not something that I’m fussed about really. It has to be natural, you can’t force it," Sterling told MEN Sport in Hong Kong. "I’m not going to start shouting on the pitch now Vinny’s gone. Your team-mates have to see you in that light.
"The manager and us as players will make the right choice. We’ve got a lot of good candidates here. David has been here for god knows how long – he’s been in the country longer than I have! There is Kevin, Dinho, we have a lot of players who can fill it."
Guardiola explained how the players will make the decision on who the next club captain will be once all of the first team are back ahead of the new campaign but Sterling doesn't need the armband to make a difference in the dressing room.
"People do ask me a lot of questions for an opinion," he said. "I’m developing and maturing and people around the club can see that. I do have quite a say in the changing room and they do ask my opinion."
Guardiola took a number of youngsters on City's pre-season tour of Asia due to first teamers being away at AFCON and Copa America and Sterling used his experience to make them feel welcome.
"I wouldn’t say anyone leans on me," he said. "I’m quite close with Ian (Carlo) Poveda. It’s a similar story – from London, come up north. He’s always sat next to me on the coach.
"He’s a bit annoying at times, I tell him that every day! He’s my little friend, I try to give him advice. I let him have a feel for things himself but if I do see something I’ll go over."
Another player who Sterling has helped over the years is former teammate Jadon Sancho who City sold to Borussia Dortmund. The England international is keen to make sure the 19-year-old isn't portrayed in a bad light.
"It’s about being natural. There is stuff in Jadon I see which was like when I came through at Liverpool. If there is anything that I feel could put him in a bad light I make sure I pull him up on it," Sterling explained about his relationship with Sancho.
"He’s a good kid. He’s doing a lot more off the field than I was at that age in terms of his preparation work. Being in the national team, and seeing the players we are producing, I’m really happy to see them coming through and try my best to make them feel welcome."
Whether or not Sterling is given the armband this season, his leadership role will remain.
