Rodri's likely exit leaves City facing a leadership vacuum

A changing of the guard at the Etihad

The summer of 2026 was always going to be a significant one at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's departure alone was enough to mark the end of an era. Add in the exits of Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake, and the scale of the transition becomes clear.

Now it looks as though Rodri will be joining them out of the door.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Barcelona are increasingly confident of landing the Ballon d'Or winner before the transfer window closes. Rodri has respectfully told City of his desire to return to Spain, and the Catalan club are preparing an improved offer after their opening bid was rejected.

The loss of Rodri would be significant on the pitch. But the more immediate question might be who replaces him in the dressing room.

The captaincy picture

Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias are the bookmakers' favourites to take the armband. Both were part of the captaincy group last season alongside Bernardo Silva and Rodri, so the natural progression is there.

Phil Foden has also made clear his ambition to step into the leadership group. An academy graduate who has become one of the club's most important players, he would bring a different kind of authority.

Beyond that, the options are less obvious. Marc Guehi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol could all earn their way into such a position. Rayan Cherki showed flashes of leadership last season, directing play in and out of possession, though whether that translates into a formal role remains to be seen.

City head into the 2026-27 campaign as FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, but with a dressing room that no longer resembles the one that collected those trophies. The new era under Maresca may well be defined by who steps forward to fill the void left by the departing voices.