‘I hope’ - Joelinton plans Newcastle United exit months after signing £150k-a-week deal

Newcastle United favourite Joelinton has revealed he hopes to play in Brazil again before hanging up his boots. 

The 28-year-old left his home country as a teenager to join Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in 2015. Joelinton had caught the eye for Brazil’s under-17 outfit while representing Sport Recife.

Then a support striker, he learned his trade at Hoffenheim while also enjoying a two-year loan spell at Rapid Wien. It was his eight goals in 2018-19 and performances at Champions League level that forced Newcastle to break the bank five years ago.

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Tasked with filling the goalscoring void left by Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez, Joelinton initially struggled. The £40million price tag - a club record at the time - weighed heavily on the under-fire striker.

Eddie Howe’s appointment in November 2021 would change Joelinton’s fortunes, with the Brazilian soon transforming into a midfield powerhouse. A bumper contract extension earlier this year placed him among Newcastle’s top earners - a deal that runs until he turns 32.

Speaking to UOL, Joelinton revealed plans to return home once his career starts to wind down. He said: “God willing, one day I hope to return and end my career at Sport, the club where I started.

“But I also want to play for other clubs in Brazil. Sao Paulo were a club I followed too, it’s a very big club in our (Brazilian) football. 

“I like Palmeiras a lot too, I have a friend who is a Palmeiras fan and he says I’m going to play there. They’re two clubs that I really admire. Maybe one day I’ll be able to play for one of them.”