So, Bruno Guimaraes has left Newcastle United.
And worse than that, he’s gone to Arsenal.
There are some transfers where I can smile, thank a player for their service and genuinely wish them all the best.
But… this isn’t one of them.
Not because I have decided to suddenly hate him, but rather, because wishing Bruno all the best now essentially means wishing Arsenal all the best.
And I’m certainly not doing that. Not now, not ever!
So, the question going around is my head right now is, is Bruno Guimaraes a rat?
It’s difficult and very tempting.
In the case for the prosecution, he has left us with years remaining on his contract and has joined a Premier League rival. He has also gone to a club that we want to consistently finish above and, ideally, see relegated. Although, admittedly, the latter seems somewhat unlikely. No true Toon fan likes Arsenal!
But no. In my view he is not a rat.
In my humble opinion, what he is, however, is another sign that we are quickly growing up. For years, we’ve been terrible at knowing when to sell players. We keep them until their value has disappeared, their bodies have started failing them and their wages have become an obstacle to moving them on. Sentiment takes over and eventually we’re left with ageing, often injury prone, players on substantial contracts who nobody else particularly wants.
The facts are Bruno is about to turn 29. He was our highest-paid player. And we have just received an extraordinary fee for him, reportedly a world-record amount for a player of his age if you believe the press. That’s the sort of transaction serious football clubs make every year. Like most people, I would have liked another season of Bruno. He’s an incredible, game changing footballer and, on his day, is up there with the best midfielders I’ve seen in black and white.
But, realistically what would another year actually have achieved? At 30, we’re probably not talking about £75 million anymore. Perhaps we’re talking £45 million or £50 million. Perhaps less. And are we confident that the next 12 months would have given us the very best version of Bruno Guimarães or would we see a declining player with increasing injuries and a slowing in pace and stamina? Time will tell!
This is the uncomfortable part of transitioning to being a competitive club at the top table. We can’t simultaneously complain that Newcastle United are hopeless at selling players and not managing SCR constraints, whilst at the same time shouting at clouds whenever we sell somebody we love at precisely the point when their value is highest with the money then being ploughed back into the team to build the next generation of winners.
The right football decision sometimes feels like the wrong emotional one.
I genuinely believe Bruno loved Newcastle. I think he loved the city, loved playing at St James’ Park and had a genuine connection with the us, the supporters. I don’t think those moments were an act simply because he’s subsequently decided to leave. Fans have a strange tendency to immediately rewrite history when somebody leaves.
Suddenly Bruno never really loved us.
Suddenly the badge kissing was fake.
I just don’t buy that. Bruno gave Newcastle some truly magnificent years and moments, during one of the most important periods in the club’s recent history. Most importantly, he helped us win a trophy, which I had pretty much given up on in my lifetime.
Bruno was there. He led us. He was instrumental in making it happen.
But does that make him a Newcastle United legend?
For me, no.
Great player? Absolutely.
Important player in Newcastle’s history? Definitely.
A player I’ll remember very fondly? Yes.
Legend? No.
That word should mean something more. Legends aren’t simply very good footballers who spend several successful seasons at the club. There’s longevity, loyalty and something almost intangible that separates them from everybody else. Bruno hasn’t dedicated his career to Newcastle United. He has chosen to leave while still capable of playing at the highest level and continue his career elsewhere.
That’s absolutely his right. And it’s equally our right not to celebrate it.
I don’t wish Bruno failure. I hope he’s happy. I hope his family are happy. I hope when he eventually looks back on his career, Newcastle occupies a very special place in it.
But do I hope he wins the Premier League (or anything at all) with Arsenal?
Absolutely not. No, no, no!
Do I hope he lifts the Champions League wearing an Arsenal shirt?
Not a chance.
If Arsenal somehow contrive to lose every match next season while Bruno has a lovely time living in London, I’ll consider that an excellent outcome.
Ultimately, though, this transfer says as much about Newcastle United as it does about Bruno Guimaraes. We’ve sold a player approaching 29, on the highest wages at the club, at what is probably very close to his maximum market value. We’ve received an enormous amount of money that can now be reinvested into the next version of this Newcastle team.
That’s what good clubs do consistently.
What we do know is that Bruno Guimarães arrived at Newcastle at a pivotal moment, became an outstanding player for us, helped drag the club back towards the top of English football and, most importantly, helped us finally win something.
For that, I’ll always be grateful.
So, a rat or not a rat?
No.
He’s not quite a legend either.
He was simply a very good Newcastle player who arrived when we needed players like him most, gave us some wonderful memories and has now been sold at exactly the right point.
Thanks for everything, Bruno.
I hope you’re very happy.
And I hope Arsenal win nothing.