Matthias Jaissle has spent his first days as Newcastle United head coach getting to know his squad during the club’s training camp in Spain, with Bruno set to leave for Arsenal.
Although Newcastle have yet to officially announce the captain’s departure and he was still in tow before the first reports confirmed his sale, Jaissle revealed during his first press conference that the Magpies had already reached a decision on Guimaraes future before he even arrived in La Manga, suggesting the outcome was effectively
settled before he took charge of the Tyneside bench.
“I met (Bruno) quickly, but the decision was already made,” Jaissle told reporters. “It was a nice conversation. He’s a fantastic player and a great human being. It’s tough but for him now it’s the next challenge and we need to deal with it at a later stage. We trust the players who are here already, but we will also see some changes.”
Those remarks are particularly notable given Newcastle were reportedly trying to convince Bruno to remain in the club once Jaissle arrived, seemingly putting the two of them face to face to try and come up with a plan for the future. However, multiple outlets reported Bruno’s transfer on Wednesday, with the move nearing completion after the Gunners agreed a £75 million deal with the Magpies.
The Telegraph reported that Guimaraes informed former head coach Eddie Howe all the way back in June about his preference to join the reigning champions, with Newcastle only beginning formal talks, at least publicly, with Arsenal after Howe’s departure.
Jaissle also admitted that Newcastle are entering a significant transition following several high-profile exits this year.
“This is a challenge, and there are so many transitions at the moment,” Jaissle said. “Many big players left – legends of the club – but we need to see it as a chance. Not having too many excuses now, just thinking forward about what we can influence.”
What do you think of Jaissle’s admission that Bruno’s future had already been decided before he arrived? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
