Newcastle United Did Not Want to Sell Captain Bruno Guimaraes, Says Sporting Director

Newcastle United did not want to sell captain Bruno Guimaraes, according to sporting director Ross Wilson. Reports had linked the Brazil midfielder with a move to Arsenal, with British media suggesting a £75 million ($100 million) deal had been agreed.

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We didn't want to sell Bruno. It wasn't in the plan to sell Bruno. None of us, or ownership, wanted to sell Bruno.

"We didn't want to sell Bruno. It wasn't in the plan to sell Bruno. None of us, or ownership, wanted to sell Bruno," Wilson told reporters at Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain. He emphasized Guimaraes' importance as captain and to the team.

Wilson elaborated that while the club had no plans to sell, Guimaraes "very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on." This emotional plea from the player necessitated a re-evaluation, despite the transfer not aligning with the club's strategic objectives for the summer.

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He's our captain, he was very important to us, and the debate over his price, it's a world-record fee for a player of his age.

Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle in January 2022, was instrumental in the club's League Cup triumph in 2025, which ended a significant drought for domestic silverware. Wilson acknowledged the need for flexibility, stating, "We have got to be flexible and react to things that happen." He also noted that the club's transfer plans might shift if a primary target is not secured, leading them to pursue alternatives.

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What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on.

The potential departure of Guimaraes would represent another setback for Newcastle, following earlier departures of players like Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, as well as manager Eddie Howe. The team is set to begin their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 23.

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There's no part in saying (the transfer) was part of our strategy and was in our thinking this summer - it wasn't. But we have got to be flexible and react to things that happen.