Jose Mourinho has suggested Antonio Valencia will become Manchester United’s next permanent captain.
Michael Carrick retired at the end of last season but barely figured in a campaign where he was sidelined for four months due to an irregular heartbeat.
Valencia skippered United in all 39 of his starts last term.
Valencia, 32, is now the longest-serving player in the United squad and Mourinho all but confirmed his appointment as Carrick’s replacement after the 1-1 draw with Club America in Phoenix, Arizona.
“The captain was Valencia last season, I think he’s going to be the captain,” Mourinho said. “And when he doesn’t play we have to make decisions.
“Depends on who is on the pitch, if Smalling is, if Ashley Young is, if Herrera is or Mata is, if they are on the pitch they have an option. Matic has all the attributes to be Manchester United captain but he arrived only one year ago.
“But I never care much about the captaincy, I care more about the life in the dressing room and the leaders. The armband means what it means.”
Valencia faces competition from new right-back signing Diogo Dalot, although the 19-year-old Portuguese is not available until September. Mourinho already appears to have settled on a defence for the Premier League opener against Leicester on August 10.
“The line up has the most possible I would say men,” Mourinho added. “Because the objective is to prepare them the best we can for the start of the season because we don’t have many more players than this one.
“Valencia, Smalling, Bailly and Shaw, they are probably the ones to start the season. We have Matic and Fred coming next week, so in there we have more solutions.
“And we have Mata, Mitchell, Martial. Sanchez is coming but we don’t have many more solutions for the start of the season.”
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