Germany international Ilkay Gündogan is Manchester City’s new captain, it became public on Sunday.
The English champions’ professionals voted the 31-year-old to succeed Brazilian Fernandinho, who has left City. “I am proud to be captain of this great team and this great club,” Gündogan wrote on social media on Sunday.
He said it was “really a great honour” that he was now officially allowed to take on the role for the new season after a number of substitute appearances as captain. He wants to give everything to ensure a successful season.
Gündogan has most recently been Fernandinho’s deputy. The new vice-captain of the Cityzens is Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne. Gündogan has played for ManCity since 2016. His contract expires at the end of this season. Recently, there had even been speculation that Gündogan could leave coach Pep Guardiola’s team this summer.
The appointment as captain can probably be understood as a veto. In the first two Premier League games against West Ham (2:0) and Bournemouth (4:0), Gündogan was in the starting eleven, and in the home opener against the Cherries he even scored himself.
