Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has offered an unusual explanation for why Erling Haaland is unlikely to be handed the club's captaincy, pointing to the Norwegian striker's relentless goal-scoring as the main obstacle.
Speaking to reporters during City's pre-season tour of Asia, Maresca revealed that he operates a long-standing rule with his captains: whenever the team scores, the skipper must come to the touchline to receive tactical instructions rather than join in the celebrations. Given how often Haaland finds the back of the net, Maresca suggested that arrangement would be impractical if the striker wore the armband.
"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," Maresca explained. "But if he scores, then he can celebrate. If Erling is the captain, f****** hell – we have a problem, can you imagine?"
The Italian coach added that even brief interruptions during a match can be valuable for making adjustments. "I think even if it is two or three minutes, there is always something to adjust," he said. With City currently short of a clear-cut captain following Bernardo Silva's exit last summer, Maresca noted that the club presently has three or four candidates in the frame, while one recognised leader is unavailable. "At the moment, we have three or four (captains) and we are missing one," he said, referring to Rodri, who continues his recovery from back surgery. Maresca also acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the Spanish midfielder's future amid reported interest from Barcelona, saying, "In the case of Rodri, see what happens."
Away from the captaincy debate, City confirmed a fresh loan departure as young forward Divin Mubama joined Championship club Southampton for the upcoming season. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Stoke City, where he scored five goals in 28 appearances, and impressed during City's recent tour of Asia.
Speaking to Southampton's official website after completing the move, Mubama expressed confidence in his own ability and excitement about linking up with his new teammates. "I believe in myself, 100 per cent. With the way this team plays, when you've got players around you that have that much quality, you will be served," he said. "It's up to you whether you put the ball in the back of the net, and that's what I'm here to do."
The striker also pointed to his recent form as a source of momentum heading into the new campaign. "I've just come back from a pre-season where I've scored goals. I've been playing, I feel really fresh, I feel sharp, so I'm just really excited to get going," Mubama added.
Attention now turns to City's competitive fixtures, starting with the Community Shield clash against Premier League champions Arsenal at Cardiff this Sunday. Maresca's side will then open their league campaign at the Etihad Stadium against Bournemouth on 23 August, with the captaincy situation likely to become clearer as the season approaches.
Based on reporting from The Independent.