The unique reason why Bruno Guimaraes will wear the number 39 shirt at Newcastle

With the transfer window being shut for a fortnight or so now, Newcastle fans can be content with their window, their first under their new owners.

Many expected Eddie Howe to splash the cash left, right and centre as the new mega-rich owners have plans to take Newcastle back to the top of English football, after being embroiled in many relegation scraps in recent years.

The club splashed out on around £95 million worth of business, bringing Kieran Tripper in from Atletico Madrid, Matt Targett on loan from Aston Villa, Chris Wood from Burnley, Dan Burn from Brighton and in the biggest signing, their marquee signing, Bruno Guimaraes from Brighton for a reported £39 million.

Guimaraes’ transfer was a real roller coaster, around 48 hours prior to his announcement, his now-former club, Lyon, posted on social media that the club had received no offer, and Guimaraes was not moving, after reliable journalists had said that an offer was accepted.

Then, it all came about that he would complete a medical elsewhere, and he would finally become a Newcastle United player.

It must be seen as a great coup for the club, getting a player who was linked with the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal, but chose the North of England over Europe’s elite.

Speaking to Premier League broadcaster Andy Sixsmith, the Brazilian said: “It’s a dream to be in the Premier League & I want it to be remembered as a winning career - someone who accepted a challenge at a difficult time but it all worked out.”

At Lyon, the midfielder wore the number 39 shirt, and coming to Newcastle as their main, marquee man, it was assumed he may be handed 8, 7 or 10, the numbers that the best player usually wear.

However, it has been revealed that he has chosen to continue donning the number 39, and there’s a very special and heartwarming reason behind it.

It is because in his native Brazil, his dad is a taxi driver, and paying homage to his father, he wears the number 39 because that number is the number of his father’s taxi.