Get the day's biggest City stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

John Stones has outlined his ambition to captain Manchester City and England.

And the £47.5m centre back insists he feels no pressure after becoming the most expensive defender in the history of British football.

Stones has made an outstanding start to his City career, following his summer move from Everton.

England manager Sam Allardyce has even predicted that Pep Guardiola can help turn him into this country’s version of Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique.

While such expectation could weigh heavily on the shoulders of a player, who has only recently turned 22 - Stones embraces it, along with his price-tag.

“It doesn’t bring any pressure to me,” he said. “It’s not down to the player.

“I feel privileged to have been bought for that amount of money, but at the end of the day it’s what the two clubs agreed – I can’t do anything about that other than thank Man City for allowing me this opportunity and Everton for all that they did for me and allowing me to further my career.

“It’s as simple as that.

“Knowing what you’re doing day in day out and trying to keep improving is all you can do really.”

Stones has already become a pivotal part of Guardiola’s team as City have made a 100 percent start to the season.

And he is expected to play a similar role for England during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

He admits it’s his ambition to wear the armband for both.

“I’d like to be captain one day,” he said. “Every player wants to be captain of their team and to do so for years to come.

“It’s a privileged position to be in to captain your club and country.

These are dreams you dream about when you’re a little boy. You have to deserve the right to be captain but I’d love to be one day and I’ll keep working hard to try to be.”

Guardiola clearly believes Stones has leadership potential.

The touchline conversations between the two have become a feature in these early stages of the campaign.

“He’s talking to me about the opposition, how they’re playing,” said Stones. “I suppose it’s easier for me to run over than a midfielder or a striker and I can then tell everyone from there.

“It’s just little details in games that are good to pass on. It’s all about how we can beat the opposition and that’s what they’re trying to do to us as well.

“Little formation changes or how we can beat a certain system.

“It’s been amazing. From the first day, not only him but his staff and all the boys, training and playing games and learning everything every day. There’s a lot to take in in the first week with a new environment but it’s the little things that take a while to sink in and get your head around.

“But when you’re on the training pitch and working you’re at ease and trying to take everything into the games to try and win them. That’s what every player wants to do.”