‘I’ve spoken with Pep’ – Bruno Guimaraes on Man City transfer interest and Newcastle stance..
Newcastle United transfer latest as Bruno Guimaraes opens up on his future..
Bruno Guimaraes has insisted he is happy at Newcastle United despite repeated transfer links with Manchester City.
The Brazilian landed on Tyneside in January 2021 and instantly became a fan favourite. The £35million signing from Lyon is now the focal point of Newcastle’s side, being awarded the captain’s armband this season.
Bruno Guimaraes has insisted he is happy at Newcastle United despite repeated transfer links with Manchester City.
The Brazilian landed on Tyneside in January 2021 and instantly became a fan favourite. The £35million signing from Lyon is now the focal point of Newcastle’s side, being awarded the captain’s armband this season.
And in his first year as skipper, he has led the club to silverware, ending a 56-year wait for a Newcastle captian to lift a trophy after the 2-1 Carabao Cup Final win over Liverpool at Wembley.
Only last summer, Guimaraes was being linked with a move to Man City. The 27-year-old had a £100m release clause in his contract, and City were mulling over activating it with head coach Pep Guardiola a big fan of the Brazil international.
However, Guimaraes remained on Tyneside and says the only way he will leave is if the club want him to go. With a young family settled in the city, and the way he is treat by fans, it is a place the Rio-born player now calls home.
“I’m very much at home and living a dream,” he said. “For me to leave, it must be something great for the club, not for me.
“I don’t worry about it – I trust the club and my agents. I’m so happy here and I want to stay.
“Their [the fans’] affection towards us is unbelievable. I’m not going to lie: as a Brazilian, Newcastle is a freezing city – we barely see the sun – but it’s rewarding to be a hero of such lovely people. I cannot wait for my kids to be able to fully understand what their dad means to this community.
“The passion for the club is unreal. Compared to what I was used to in Brazil, it’s a different type of love… it’s hard to explain.”
Guardiola gate-crashed a Guimaraes interview two years ago to tell him how good a player he was. Those conversations with the Spaniard prompted more speculation about Bruno’s future, but he insists a transfer move was never discussed.
“I’ve spoken with him, but nothing about a potential move,” Guimaraes told Four Four Two. “He has said some nice things about my game, and I am very humbled by that because he is the best coach I’ve ever seen – I admire how he has impacted football.”
While Guimaraes claims Guardiola is the best coach he’s seen, he also has strong praise for his Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who brought him to the club. He believes that Howe will go on to manage England eventually, and credits him with being the brains behind the Carabao Cup win.
“It’s tough to describe what a fabulous human being he is: you’d have to work with him on a daily basis to get the full picture of what I’m talking about,” the Brazilian added.
“I have no doubt that we beat Liverpool because of him. He was like, ‘We’re not dropping our lines; we’ll keep pressing high, man to man.’ Liverpool weren’t expecting that at all.”
“He is by far the best European coach I’ve had. No doubt he’ll be England manager one day.
“As a person, he’s a sensation – a true legend. He’s gifted with strong man-management skills. He knows exactly the best way to talk to you in private, in the dressing room and in the press. He still has a long and promising career ahead of him.”
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