Maresca names Manchester City leadership group with Fernandez left out

Enzo Fernandez will not be part of Manchester City’s newly appointed senior leadership group, despite arriving from Chelsea as a club-record signing and having previously captained the London club.

Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma have been chosen for the leadership structure ahead of City’s Premier League meeting with Coventry City.

Fernandez completed his move from Chelsea on deadline day for a fee of £125m. The Argentina midfielder signed a five-year contract, but his previous captaincy experience has not been enough to secure an immediate place among City’s four designated leaders.

The 25-year-old was captain at Stamford Bridge and is also a 2022 FIFA World Cup winner. However, he will now have to establish himself within his new squad before he can challenge for a position in the club’s senior hierarchy.

Dias and Haaland remain as links to the Pep Guardiola era, while Guehi and Donnarumma have been included after arriving under Maresca. The reshaped group follows the departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva and reflects Maresca’s willingness to give important responsibilities to players who have only recently joined the club.

Fernandez had previously spoken of his ambition after completing the move, saying he had “always dreamed of being at a club as big as Man City”.

Although he has not been included among the four leaders, City are pleased to have recruited a player with his experience, honours and background in high-level football.

Maresca said Fernandez’s arrival had been welcomed by the rest of the squad, describing him as a player who could bring a winning mentality to the group.

“He is a winner and when you belong to a squad and another winning player arrives, they are always happy,” said Maresca.

The manager added that several players had been keen to discover whether the transfer would be completed, underlining the importance City place on Fernandez’s arrival.

“I can promise you that in the last four or five days four or five players from the squad were asking if he is coming or not because they want him to be with us. It’s very important that he is with us and we are 100 per cent happy with that.”

Fernandez’s omission means Maresca has chosen to separate his immediate leadership responsibilities from the player’s status and profile. His club-record fee, international success and previous experience as a captain have not altered the manager’s initial decision.

For now, Dias, Haaland, Guehi and Donnarumma will carry the designated senior responsibilities, while Fernandez begins the process of settling into life at Manchester City and competing for a future place within the leadership group.