MANCHESTER — Manchester City captain Ruben Dias says the club's new signings are "desperate to win" and the entire squad is "buying into the idea" of new manager Enzo Maresca, who he described as the "perfect person for the job" following a Premier League record £458m summer window.
City spent £458m on incomings including midfield trio Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, while recouping more than £300m in sales. The turnover saw the departures of 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, former captain Bernardo Silva and England international John Stones. Dias, who joined from Benfica for £65m in 2020 and has now been handed the armband by Maresca, told the Football Interview: "In terms of the role I have, it goes down to trying to be the best version of yourself, and in terms of that, nothing has changed."
Dias said "so many winners have left" but the arrivals bring fresh ambition. "So many people have left and so many winners have left, and now new people have joined with a lot of ambition and people that are desperate to win and that is also what makes the club keep on going," he said. Maresca replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of last season after 10 years in charge. Maresca was previously Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad Stadium before spells at Leicester City and Chelsea, and Dias said his departure was not an "easy moment for the club" but Maresca "knew the house so well."
"There's obviously many things from training session to some details about the way we press, details about the way we defend and that make all of these Enzo's idea," Dias said. "I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone is buying into the idea. Everyone's excited about it and there is a lot of joy in training, which is massively important." City have started the season with four straight victories in the Premier League and Champions League and face their sternest test with a trip to Manchester United on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 BST).
The speed of change has left the 29-year-old as one of City's longest-serving players. He has played over 250 games, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA Cups, and is one of only four players remaining from the 2023 Treble-winning squad alongside Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rico Lewis. Last summer he signed a contract extension until 2029, with the option of a further year. "I am 29, I am going to be 30 next year but I am excited about all of this," Dias said. "I am still very ambitious. I think excited is the word."