Newcastle’s Bruno claims to be an ‘idol’ amid Manchester City rumours

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes spoke about interest from Manchester City and Pep Guardiola during the last international break, claiming to be an ‘idol’ on Tyneside and sounding committed to the Magpies.

Speaking to Globo in Brazil, the 25-year-old midfielder revealed details of previous discussions and the admiration shown by Guardiola, but clarified that his focus remains solely on leading Newcastle.

“I believe I am an idol at my club, and I have a lot of respect,” Guimaraes said. “I’m the captain of Newcastle and if you had asked me three years ago, my biggest dream would have been to play in the Premier League.

“Playing, being an idol, being captain is something great. I really like Newcastle.”

Reports of Manchester City’s interest surfaced last summer, especially after it emerged that Guimaraes’ contract contained a £100 million release clause that expired at the end of June.

Guimaraes acknowledged the interest, noting it was a testament to his performances at Newcastle.

“Of course the interest from Manchester City shows that I am at a high level,” said Bruno. “But it was nothing more than interest.

“I know Guardiola loves my football. It’s normal to have great coaches who admire your football. We spoke once, I praised his work, he praised my work, but it was nothing more than that.”

Guardiola’s admiration for Guimaraes is no secret. The Manchester City manager previously described him as ‘an exceptional midfielder’ due to his aggressive style and technical quality. Speculation about City’s renewed interest grew after Rodri’s ACL injury sidelined him for the season, but Guimaraes reiterated his commitment to Newcastle’s project.

Ultimately, however, it would be impossible for Man City to sign him away from Tyneside mid-season in the upcoming January transfer window.

Since joining Newcastle from Lyon for £33million in January 2022, Guimaraes has played a crucial role in the club’s progress towards the better end of the Premier League spectrum.

Bruno may have been flattered by Man City’s interest, but he made it clear he remains focused on helping Newcastle achieve success, saying: “It’s great to be admired, but my heart is here.”

We’ll see how that ages when we revisit this post in June and look at a future that may or may not exist, including Bruno in Newcastle’s XI.