Jose Mourinho reveals his Manchester United captain for next season

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Antonio Valencia should become the permanent captain for the club, now that Michael Carrick has retired from the game. The Ecuador international was a regular standing captain for United last season, as Carrick could not make the field due to health and fitness concerns.

Speaking in a news conference, Mourinho said that Valencia should keep the captain’s armband for the upcoming campaign but the baton could be handed to the likes of Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera, should the right-back be rested, he said: “The captain was Valencia last season, I think he’s going to be the captain and when he doesn’t play we have to make decisions. It depends on who is on the pitch, if Chris Smalling is, if Ashley Young is, if Ander Herrera is or Juan Mata is. 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’s long-term future has come under question since the signing of Diogo Dalot but the Ecuadorian should start the Premier League campaign in the right-back role after Mourinho confirmed that the latter is still recovering from a knee surgery which was performed at former club Porto.

Meanwhile, there has been plenty of speculation about United signing a new left-back but so far, they have yet to sanction a deal for any of their targets. Of late, Juventus’ Alex Sandro has been heavily touted to join the club but United have not made a move with Mourinho considering offering a second chance to Luke Shaw. The England international has largely played a back-up role during his two seasons under Mourinho but he has decided to stay put with the club for the final year of his contract.