Exclusive: Joelinton tells all after a summer of unrest on Tyneside and why he remains focused despite the departures of two men he could not have any more respect for
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with the national flag of Brazil after wining the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with the national flag of Brazil after wining the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Newcastle United ace Joelinton once admitted that Bruno Guimaraes was "like a brother" to him after sharing his roller-coaster ride at St James' Park together with his fellow Brazilian.
The two stars were inseparable at the club's Benton base and fought like tigers on the pitch together in black and white, while also helping deliver the Magpies' first piece of silverware since the 2021 takeover. Joelinton was a player that the club's Saudi backers inherited from the old regime, while Bruno represented the new era of exciting new signings from around the globe, but they quickly formed a close bond on and off the pitch.
Once handed the No 9 shirt and enduring a nightmare in front of goal during the ill-fated Mike Ashley era, Joelinton dovetailed perfectly with Bruno in midfield, and their friendship was there for all to see. The duo would go on to be each other's best men at their respective weddings when their marriages were celebrated by dancing long into the night.
But on August 8 this year, things changed dramatically as Bruno swapped black and white for red and white just days after Eddie Howe's controversial exit as head coach. Joelinton admits the double departure was a shock to the system and one that is still taking some getting used to.
Opening up on the first time on his best pal's £75million sale to Arsenal, Joelinton told Chronicle Live: "It's never time to cry, because football always moves forward. Like I say about Eddie, Bruno is the same, a great person for Newcastle United who has left the club.
"What Bruno did here was amazing, and we have to remember that. He always gave his best for the club and respected everybody. We have to remember him as a great player - because he was.
"We wish him all the best, but football doesn't stop, players come and go, coaches come and go, the only thing that is permanent is the fans and the club. We always move forward, we have had good players, and we have signed good players that we now hope can deliver great things for the club in the years ahead."
Bruno will still discreetly pop around to the Joelinton household during breaks as he did during Arsenal's recent visit to the North-East for the clash with Sunderland. But with a smile, Joelinton admits that there will be no escape from the cauldron of passion that will greet Bruno on his first game back at St James' Park since leaving last summer. The Gunners land on Tyneside on Saturday, November 21 for a 5:30pm kick-off that will see a white-hot atmosphere at the Gallowgate.
As Alexander Isak found out when he returned with Liverpool, it is part of the ritual for many former players when they return to experience a few boos and even Joelinton knows his best friend may have to endure the same.
Joelinton said: "As a footballer, you have to make decisions, and he made his. Of course, he was sad to leave because he loved the city and club; he also had a great relationship with the fans, so it was not that easy for him. Now it's done, we wish him all the best.
"Just when he comes here now, he can't have a good time! We will be waiting for him here and give him some things!
"But he did great for him, and I wish him the best because he is one of my best friends in life. I wish him all the best for him and his family."
Howe's return to St James' Park one day may well be a slightly different affair, though, given he was the first man to guide Newcastle to a cup since 1969. For Joelinton, Howe has been the man credited with saving his career to an extent as he went from £40m striker who struggled to bear the weight of the No 9 to fully fledged Brazil international as a midfielder.
Joelinton's transformation on Tyneside will always be part of the post-takeover tapestry at Newcastle. Few saw it happening, bar the visionary Howe. And working with the former Magpies boss will be something the South American will never forget.
"He has trusted me from day one, and I will always be grateful for everything he did for me," the 30-year-old added. "I always tried to give that back to him when I stepped on the pitch.
"He improved my game a lot and gave me the chance to play midfield. He always trusted me, so I just have good things to say about Eddie, and I wish him all the best for the future.
"I think everyone will remember him as a great head coach who had a great time here. He was not only a great head coach but a great man as well. I have a lot of good things to say about Eddie, we just had a great relationship from day one.
"But now this is in the past. What he did is history now and stays in the past. Now we move on as a club at Newcastle because football never stops. We hope to achieve great things with Matthias Jaissle now."
Joelinton and Eddie Howe
Joelinton and Eddie Howe
Joelinton has a connection with the German, with the pair both former Hoffenheim players, though they never worked together until now. However, it is a partnership the Brazil international is now looking forward to in black and white.
The Brazilian said: "We were not together, he left one year before I joined Hoffenheim but I knew of him. I know he is a great head coach and he is here because he has done well at other clubs. He is a young coach with great ideas; he has had success before, so it is a great addition for this club.
"I hope he can keep on improving the team and take us to the next level."
To do so will be a stern test of not only Jaissle's coaching skills but also his ability to mould a new squad together. Eight summer signings - all under the age of 24 - have come into a group which still contains experience and understanding of what is needed at Newcastle, in the form of Joelinton, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and others who have been at the club a number of years.
Matthias Jaissle, Head Coach of Newcastle United, laughs with Joelinton of Newcastle United following the pre-season friendly match between Valencia and Newcastle
The legacy of bouncing back in adversity is a trait from the Howe era that has been carried into the Jaissle adventure, though. Now vice-captain of the club, Joelinton may not have been out on the pitch as United dug deep to secure three points against Hull City, off the back of a horror show at Leeds five days earlier, but his role behind the scenes in encouraging and guiding the raw, inexperienced youngsters in the squad was vital.
He said: "It is never time to cry even after a bad result like Leeds. You have to move on at this club and the boys worked hard after Leeds because it was a tough night. But when that happens it is football and you have to stand and go again.
"I am sure the boys will always bounce back from a bad result with fight and hope we can have a great season."
And reflecting on his new role as vice captain in the leadership group, Joelinton - eyeing his comeback from a muscle injury against Coventry on October 12 - said: "It doesn't change much, the way I do things will be similar, I have always tried to help the boys. On the training pitch, I am doing things day by day, and in games, it doesn't change me.
"Of course, I am proud to be named vice captain, or whenever I wear the armband, to be one of the leaders.
"I have been here for a good amount of time now and know the club and the fans, and I know what they want. I just try to pass the experience to the new signings and the young players, and how much it means to the city and the fans. I always try my best with players, coaching staff and the backroom.
"I just can't wait to be back on the pitch and help the team win and play well."