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Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has shown his support to one of his former clubs after they were relegated on the final day of the season.
Athletico Paranaense started Sunday outside of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone but their 1-0 defeat against Atletico Mineiro and victories for Fluminense and Red Bull Bragantino condemned them to the second-tier of Brazilian football.
Founded in 1924, it is only the fourth time Paranaense have been relegation in its entire history following previous demotions in 1989, 1993, and 2011. It capped off a tumultuous campaign that saw four different managers appointed.
“First of all, we must apologise for the sad sporting result of 2024,” a club statement read. “The relegation of Athletico Paranaense is painful and worthy of all regret, as this Institution has become in recent decades synonymous with greatness and pride for all the people of Paraná and its fanatical fans.
“Although winning and losing are part of competitive and sporting life, it is not easy to accept and deliver this disappointing result to all of you who, like us, love and live this club every day. It is necessary to humbly acknowledge that many mistakes were made, but it is also essential to reflect on them and improve our path for the future.
“Brazilian football, as an industry today, presents a different scenario from what we had in our recent past, in which we began to occupy a prominent space among the big clubs, as a reflection of our good organization and professionalism, but also as a response to the state of economic vulnerability of many clubs.
“Unfortunately, due to the unpredictable nature of football and the uncertainty inherent in each signing, we did not get it right. The annual calendar of the cups, which causes most of its competitors to lose focus on the Brazilian Championship, and the lack of alignment between the Brazilian calendar and the main European transfer window also lead to significant losses of athletes who are in the middle of national competition.
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“It is imperative to think about the future and the need to change course. To this end, we have already begun a comprehensive restructuring of the football sector and are working to adapt as quickly as possible to the reality we will face next season. The vision of the future demands all sacrifices from us, without disconnecting us from the governance principles that have led us to be a reference for modernity and good management. Like everything that is most valuable in life, we need to be together, in joy and in sorrow.
“With you, Athletico Paranaense, until the end. We win together and we lose together. May the final stretch of this year be valued by the tireless unity and strength that we demonstrated with our full house, unconditionally supporting Furacão.”
Guimaraes made 95 appearances for Paranaense between 2018 and 2020 before moving to Europe, where he joined French club Lyon. The 27-year-old still retains a strong connection with Paranaense and after their relegation wrote: “It will soon be back in its rightful place. I will always be rooting for you.”
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