Bruno Guimaraes delivers Cristiano Ronaldo transfer verdict amid Newcastle United ‘contact’

One of the key factors behind Newcastle United’s recent rise is the unity of Eddie Howe’s tight-knit squad. Whatever the Magpies may lack in ability is certainly made up for in togetherness.

Head coach Howe has made his transfer approach clear, not only does he want to recruit good players, but good characters too, players that can fit into the current dynamics of the dressing room.

In the two transfer windows under the club’s Saudi Arabian-backed owners thus far, Newcastle have certainly got that balance right. In January, Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn all signed to help keep United in the Premier League.

Fast forward to the summer, the squad was bolstered further by Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak’s arrivals. The new signings, coupled with Howe’s ability to significantly improved pre-takeover players currently has Newcastle sitting third in the Premier League table for the World Cup break.

With just over £200m spent on new players in total, it’d have been easy for United to target high-profile stars, rather than go for slightly more modest names - but it has paid off. And Guimaraes, already a cult hero following his £35m arrival from Lyon in January, agrees that is the right way forward.

He said: “The way I agreed to come to the club was also something remarkable. Today anyone wants to come to Newcastle, the richest team in the world, but I arrived with the team doing bad, pointed out as virtually relegated. Trippier and I were the first to believe in the project, so fans have a special affection.

“I think Newcastle need players with that mentality, it’s not about signing everyone just because they have money. It’s not bringing Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe. It’s not like this.”

The timing of Guimaraes’ comments is a total coincidence in terms of the Cristiano Ronaldo saga. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the 37-year-old said he felt betrayed by Manchester United and did not respect boss Erik ten Hag.

It seems inevitable that Ronaldo has played his last game for the Red Devils and will most likely depart in January. Indeed, in a report by the Daily Mail, it was claimed Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes had contacted Newcastle about Ronaldo.

And going off the social media reaction, it’s clear Newcastle fans are of a similar mindset to Guimaraes.