Bruno Guimaraes has been in brilliant form today as the Brazilian sat down to face the media ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League meeting with Barcelona.
Just after [Eddie Howe spoke to the press](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2025/09/17/howe-on-wissa-injury-woltemade-barcelona-and-new-format-new-quotes-from-sjp/), our smiling skipper took questions from local journalists and the world’s media as we prepare to face Barca 28 years on from that famous 3-2 win back in 1997.
Bruno spoke with ambition and heart on the challenge ahead, refusing to “put limits on our dreams” heading into the league phase, discussed his childhood links to Barcelona and love-affair with Newcastle United and its fans, who spurs him on to ‘play like a Geordie.’
Our captain also spoke brilliantly on Alexander Isak’s exit, hailed new signing Nick Woltemade, his relationship with Sandro Tonalo and picked out Yamal, Dembele, Vitinha and Raphinha as the four best players in the world right now.
Read all of the best bits from Bruno’s press conference below:
**Bruno on our Champions League challenge** – “Barca are one of the best teams in the world and we have to fight until the final second to win the game.”
“We don’t want to put limits on our dreams. We want to take it game by game and see what we get. We are very excited and we hope we can go as far as possible.”
**Bruno on Barcelona** – “I’m very excited, I have never played them before. They were one of the team I watched when I was young. I always watched Barcelona play.
“Ronaldinho was my childhood idol, followed by Xavi, Messi, and Iniesta. Today, we see another Brazilian player shining alongside them. I’m not surprised by Raphinha’s level, for me he’s top 5 in the world”
“Lamine is one of the best in the world, but we’re playing vs Barça and they have very good players, so I can’t wait for tomorrow’s match and to play this game.”
**Bruno on his love-affair with Newcastle fans** – “When I signed I never thought I’d be able to go into any restaurant in the city and never have to pay the bill!
“I never thought this (love affair with the fans) would happen when I signed for the club, it’s been better than I thought it would be.
“When I put the shirt on, I try to play like a Geordie, give everything that I can to help the club, help the city. We have been together three-and-a-half years and everything has been amazing. I hope for this to continue…”
**Bruno on Nick Woltemade** – “I like him a lot, he’s impressed me in training as well. He’s very young and we’ve seen he’s not used to the Premier League pace, getting cramps after 45 minutes – I’ve never seen this before! (laughing).
“I’m very happy he scored on his debut – a moment to remember for him. I hope it continues but he’s showing his qualities in training.”
**Bruno on Alexander Isak’s exit** – “Football is business. The club made a choice. He is gone and I wish him all the best.
“Grateful for everything we achieved together, but it’s not time to look at the past. It’s time to look forward to the future and the game tomorrow. We are very excited.”
**Bruno on his relationship with Tonali** – “Very good. I enjoy playing at his side and I think we compliment each other and he enjoying playing with me as well.
“We have a very good connection. I think we have one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and now we have to prove it in the Champions League. The midfield is everything to the club as we have to attack, defend, build up, score goals, and it’s nice to share the pitch with good players.”
**Bruno’s top four players in the world right now** – “Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and Raphinha.”