Ruben Dias has delivered a firm message to Manchester City’s rivals, saying the club’s huge £458 million summer rebuild has only sharpened their appetite for trophies. The newly named captain feels the arrival of new faces has given fresh life to a squad that has recently said goodbye to several iconic players.

A new chapter starts under Enzo Maresca

After Pep Guardiola’s exit following a decade of dominance, Manchester City have spent a Premier League record £458 million to remodel the squad for Enzo Maresca. Although the departures of key figures such as Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones marked the close of one era, the arrivals of Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi have brought renewed energy to the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking about his new role and the changing look of the dressing room, Dias said his leadership approach has not altered despite the major turnover in personnel. “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 told BBC Sport. “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.”

The Maresca method starts to show

The move from Guardiola to Maresca could have created difficulties, but the Italian’s earlier spell as an assistant at the club has helped make the transition smooth. City have opened the new season with four straight wins across the Premier League and the Champions League, and Dias was quick to praise the appointment, saying Maresca’s understanding of the club’s internal culture has been crucial during a summer of such sweeping change.

“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. 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,” Dias explained.

Remaining ambitious in a changing environment

Because of the scale of the changes, Dias, at 29, is now among the senior figures and longest-serving members of the first-team squad. With more than 250 appearances and a list of honours that includes four Premier League titles and a Champions League winner’s medal, he stands as the link between the Treble-winning past and the rebuilt future. Even with the departure of close friends and long-time team-mates, Dias says he is energised by the challenge of showing that City’s winning mentality is bigger than any individual names.

Dias, who recently signed a contract extension until 2029, spoke openly about the emotional aspect of watching legendary figures leave. “I am 29, I am going to be 30 next year but I am excited about all of this and all the things with the club, the new manager, new players, the new challenge, guys that I was so close with leaving,” he said.

“It's the circle of life, you can call it and it is just how things are I am appreciative of all of it - I'm appreciative of the memories I have with all the ones that left and I'm excited with the memory about the memories I'm going to make with the ones that have just arrived.”

“I am still very ambitious. I took the decision of being at this level because I feel like I have won so much but maybe the thing that would be my biggest reward would be to be here so many years playing at this level and and having the consistency of being ambitious for so long.”

Focusing on the Manchester derby

While the longer-term project is already in motion, the immediate attention now turns to the local rivalry that defines City’s season for many fans. The visit to Old Trafford on Sunday will be the first major examination of the Maresca era and an opportunity for the new signings to feel the intensity of the Manchester derby.