Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has been tipped as a future Brazil captain.
Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes believes he is “ready” to step up and become Brazil captain.
Ahead of their underwhelming World Cup opener with Morocco - which ended 1-1 - Manchester United midfielder Casemiro tipped Guimaraes as a future Selecao skipper. Eddie Howe appointed the 28-year-old as Newcastle’s captain ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Some questioned the decision, but Guimaraes responded by guiding the Magpies to their first domestic trophy for 70 years and Champions League qualification. While Newcastle underperformed last season, the midfielder registered his career-best goal tally.
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‘I want a career like Casemiro’s’ - Bruno Guimaraes
Speaking on World Cup duty, the Toon talisman was grateful for Casemiro’s words - insisting he is ready to step up if needed. As it stands, Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos wears the Brazil armband.
“When I first arrived with Brazil in 2020, I said I wanted a career like Casemiro’s,” Guimaraes admitted. “So to hear that from him was a huge satisfaction. I feel ready. I’m the captain of my club. It’s an important characteristic.”
‘A learning experience’ - Bruno Guimaraes
Guimaraes - and Brazil as a whole - failed to perform in Qatar four years ago. A penalty shoot-out defeat to Croatia in the quarter-finals hurt - but he feels better prepared this time.
“It was a learning experience for me, my first World Cup,” Guimaraes added. “Obviously, being called up was the greatest achievement of my life. I took all the anguish and negative feelings I had and turned them into work.
“I improved a lot from one World Cup to another. I evolved in many aspects of my game. I was very frustrated. But I worked and transformed that pain into good things and positive feelings to improve my game. I feel ready to go again.”
Carlo Ancelotti responsibility
Carlo Ancelotti became the country’s first foreign coach last year and bore much of the criticism following the draw with Morocco. Guimaraes is grateful to the legendary coach for giving him extra responsibility in the team.
“Since the first call-up and the first conversation we had, I already felt I would be important to him,” he said about Ancelotti. “He made me one of the leaders of the group. It made me want even more, want to be important. If you compare my importance from the last World Cup to this one, they are completely different levels.”
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