Emotional Guimaraes wanted to leave, says Newcastle chief Wilson
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson admits their emotional club captain made it clear he wanted to join Arsenal amid talks over a 75 million pound move.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Ross Wilson reveals Bruno Guimaraes expressed a strong desire to join Arsenal
- Premier League champions set to finalize a 75 million pound deal for the midfielder
- Guimaraes bid a tearful farewell to teammates at the pre-season training camp
- Guimaraes becomes the fourth key player to leave Newcastle in less than a year
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson has disclosed that the club did not have any initial plans to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but their highly emotional captain made it explicitly known that he wanted to move on and join Arsenal.
The potential transfer comes as talks reached a breakthrough this week, with the Premier League champions poised to complete a 75 million pound acquisition for the Brazilian midfielder following ongoing negotiations between the clubs.
Wilson explained that the club's management had to carefully weigh up the situation, taking into account Guimaraes's respectful and deeply emotional behavior toward the club when he communicated his desire to leave, noting that management must remain flexible in reacting to evolving circumstances.
"What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, he effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on."
Ross Wilson
Prior to the agreement, Guimaraes shared a tearful goodbye with his teammates and staff members while departing from the club's pre-season training camp located in Spain. His departure marks him as the fourth influential player to exit the club in less than a 12-month period, following the previous exits of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Alexander Isak.
Losing Bruno Guimaraes represents a significant milestone and a structural challenge for Newcastle United. As the talismanic figure of the squad, his departure underscores the complex dynamics of modern football transfer windows, where clubs must balance elite player ambitions, financial regulations, and squad rebuilding strategies against the emotional attachment of the fans.
Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson indicated that Arsenal initially hoped to secure the player for a lower fee after smaller figures were floated for a midfielder who will turn 29 in November. However, Hopkinson acknowledged that Newcastle would have naturally preferred an even higher valuation for such a pivotal player.
Looking ahead, Newcastle remain active in the transfer market to secure a suitable replacement. While four of their five summer signings so far have been aged 20 and under, the club is actively searching for a more experienced midfielder alongside a couple of additional signings before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Source: BBC Sport
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