Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Erling Haaland is unlikely to assume the captaincy due to a unique tactical requirement. Maresca prefers his captain to report to the touchline for instructions each time a goal is scored, a scenario that poses a challenge given Haaland's prolific scoring rate.

During a press conference while on the squad’s pre-season tour of Asia, Maresca explained:

"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. But if he scores, then he can celebrate. If Erling is the captain, f****** hell – we have a problem, can you imagine?"

He emphasized the need for tactical adjustments, stating that even a brief absence could impact the game. Currently, City has multiple potential captains, with Rodri recovering from back surgery and linked with a move to Barcelona.

In a separate development, Divin Mubama, an England Under-21 striker, has secured a loan move to Southampton after a productive stint at Stoke last season, where he netted five goals in 28 appearances. Expressing confidence in his abilities, Mubama stated:

"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. 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."

City will face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and will kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Bournemouth on 23 August.