Joelinton is confident that Bruno Guimaraes will stay at Newcastle United this summer, following positive conversations with his best friend.
The £100million ($129.2m at present exchange rates) release clause in Guimaraes’ contract expired at the end of last month, yet the Brazil international continues to court interest from clubs across Europe, including Manchester City.
Eddie Howe, the head coach, and Darren Eales, the CEO, have both declared that Newcastle are under no pressure to sell their “best players” and intend to resist offers for Guimaraes.
The 26-year-old is due to join up with the Newcastle squad later this month for pre-season training, having been given an extended break after representing Brazil at the Copa America, and Joelinton expects Guimaraes to remain on Tyneside for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
“Yes, I hope he stays,” Joelinton said, when asked if Guimaraes will still be a Newcastle player come the end of August. “I know him, he loves the club as well.
“He loves the fans, he enjoys his life in Newcastle. I think he’s glad to be there for his life as well as football. Newcastle and the club want him to be happy and stay for many years.
“I think he’s going to stay. He tells me he’s going to come back next week and get ready for the season.”
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Joelinton signed a new four-year contract in April which has helped convince Guimaraes to prolong his Newcastle career, given the pair’s close friendship. Guimaraes attended Joelinton’s wedding at Praia does Carneiros in Brazil in May and their families regularly socialise together off the field on Tyneside.
Crucial to Joelinton agreeing that deal was Howe, who the versatile midfielder-cum-forward credits for “changing my career” since arriving at St James’ Park in November 2021. Joelinton is keen for Howe to continue, despite speculation linking him with the vacant England job, believing the head coach can “take us to the next level”.
“Very happy, I always said I wanted to stay at the club,” the 27-year-old said, when asked how he felt about his extension, which was signed while he was still recovering from the thigh surgery he underwent in January.
“I love the club, the city. My family is happy there, I enjoy my life there. Things are going well on the football pitch so why not stay? I’m happy to continue my journey here.”
Pushed as to whether he was ever close to leaving, Joelinton said: “Football is always changing but I really made it clear that I wanted to stay. My head says I always wanted to stay and I’m really happy.
“I felt very sad (when I got injured in January). For the first time, I stayed for a long time away from the pitch. It was a difficult time. My first focus was to recover, to come back to the team and get over it quickly.
“I had one year still to go (on my contract) but my only thought was recovery from the surgery and start the work to come back.”
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While Joelinton’s long-term goal is to make the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America, he is also determined to take Newcastle back into the Champions League. He has “high expectations” for the 2024-25 season, stressing that European qualification and a tilt at a trophy are realistic targets.
“My hopes are high for the new season with Newcastle,” Joelinton said. “Last season was difficult for me with the injuries and now I want to be healthy and help the team in every respect. I want to help us get back up there again.
“We have great, high expectations (of Europe and the Champions League). We have big goals, we want to be better. We want to compete with the best. I want to be back in a final again.
“We want to be a competitive team. That’s what you want, that’s what you work for. We will hopefully have a good season.”
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(Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
