Erling Haaland is unlikely to be appointed Manchester City’s next captain because the striker’s goalscoring responsibilities would conflict with Enzo Maresca’s expectations of the role.
Maresca has not yet selected a permanent captain since Bernardo Silva moved to Real Madrid this summer. Phil Foden and Ruben Dias have each worn the armband during Manchester City’s pre-season friendlies, while Marc Guehi has also been considered as a possible candidate.
Rodri was another contender, but his chances may depend on whether he remains at the club, with the midfielder linked with a potential move to Barcelona. He is also currently recovering from back surgery.
Haaland, who is preparing for his fifth season in Manchester, might appear a natural candidate given his standing within the squad. However, Maresca’s approach to captaincy makes the Norway international an unlikely choice.
The manager said he expects the captain to leave celebrations immediately after a goal in order to return to the bench and receive tactical instructions.
“At Leicester and Chelsea, I had a rule that when we scored, the captain had to come to the bench for instructions and not celebrate,” said Maresca.
“But if he scores, then he can celebrate. If Erling is the captain, f hell – we have a problem, can you imagine?
“I think even if it is two or three minutes, there is always something to adjust. At the moment, we have three or four [captains] and we are missing one [Rodri is recovering from back surgery].
“In the case of Rodri, see what happens.”
Haaland’s record in front of goal has made him one of the leading players in European football since his arrival at Manchester City. He has scored 162 goals in 198 appearances for the club.
Only Harry Kane, with 178 goals, and Kylian Mbappe, with 171, have scored more during that period among players from Europe’s top five leagues.
Haaland also finished the 2025-26 season with 27 Premier League goals, earning the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons with Manchester City.
That achievement places him alongside Alan Shearer and Kane, who have also won the award three times. Only Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah, with four Golden Boots apiece, have claimed it more often. Haaland is the fifth player to win the prize at least three times.
His scoring figures across all competitions were similarly impressive. Including the Club World Cup, Haaland scored 41 goals in 2025-26, with only Kane, who scored 63, and Mbappe, who scored 43, managing more among players from the top five European leagues.
Haaland averaged a goal every 107.3 minutes during the campaign, underlining the attacking impact that could make it difficult for him to follow Maresca’s preferred instructions for a captain. For now, Manchester City have three or four potential leaders in contention, with one place still open while the club waits to see what happens with Rodri.
