Newcastle United has finally explained its side of the Bruno Guimaraes saga, with CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson making it clear the club never intended to sell its captain before a summer of behind-the-scenes negotiations changed everything.
Speaking after the transfer was agreed, both executives insisted Bruno’s departure was not part of Newcastle’s strategy while revealing new details about the negotiations with Arsenal and the midfielder’s own desire to leave.
“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 said. “He’s our captain, he was very, very important to us.”
Wilson then explained why Newcastle eventually changed course.
“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,” Wilson said. “That doesn’t mean he can go but it certainly plays a part in what our thinking is when we hit a certain range of number.
“Having such an important player leave is disappointing, but having a really important player who doesn’t want to play here anymore – for himself, he’s honest about that – it was the only decision we could make.”
Hopkinson also lifted the lid on the negotiations, suggesting Arsenal were ultimately forced to pay more than they had hoped. That’s interesting, considering multiple reports say that internally, Newcastle felt they fell short in the negotations while Arsenal consider the transfer a coup.
“It was not the fee that I think Arsenal had hoped to pay and of course we would have liked an even higher number,” Hopkinson said. “But I think you’re dealing with sophisticated actors on both sides and that’s what negotiation looks like.”
The CEO maintained Newcastle achieved a satisfactory outcome despite previously valuing Bruno significantly higher.
“It’s a fee that satisfies us,” Hopkinson said. “Is that a good deal for Newcastle United? I believe it is. But Arsenal is getting a very special player and special person so this works from a financial perspective for both sides.”
The comments come after weeks of reports suggesting Arsenal’s opening discussions began far below (at around £45 million) Newcastle’s valuation before a deal worth £75 million was eventually agreed.
Do you agree with Newcastle’s decision to sell once Bruno made his intentions clear, or should the club have stood firm and kept trying to convince him to stay regardless? Let us know your thoughts in the Coming Home Newcastle comments section below.
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