Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes appeared to issue a pointed response to Alexander Isak’s bombshell statement with a post of his own on Tuesday night. Since arriving in 2022, the Brazilian midfielder has become one of the Magpies’ most influential figures, and his latest defiant message is only likely to deepen his bond with the St James’ Park faithful.
The Isak saga has reached boiling point after the wantaway striker released a statement explaining why he did not attend the PFA awards ceremony. In it, the Sweden international thanked his teammates for helping him earn a spot in the Team of the Year, but went on to reveal a breakdown of trust with the Newcastle hierarchy - claiming he could no longer play for the club after he effectively went on strike in an attempt to force through a move to Liverpool. Read the full statement below:
Newcastle quickly hit back with a statement of their own, voicing disappointment at Isak’s remarks and reiterating that their valuation of the striker had not been met - and was unlikely to be. While frustrated fans online have urged the club to banish him to the reserves, one silver lining in the drama has been Guimaraes’ reaction, which underlines his loyalty and value to the team.
Bruno Guimaraes' Social Media Post Following Isak Statement
Bruno Guimaraes
The 27-year-old’s Instagram post was a great example of saying plenty without using a single word. Instead of issuing a lengthy statement, Guimaraes simply reshared a post from the Premier League’s Latin America account, showing him proudly wearing Newcastle’s new home kit, standing tall against the backdrop of the club crest. See his post below:
Unsurprisingly, the post has gone down well with Newcastle supporters, who could be forgiven for feeling uneasy about the club’s summer transfer dealings. With their star striker pushing for an exit and no new forward yet willing to join - despite efforts to break into the Premier League’s traditional ‘big six’- the mood on Tyneside has been tense.
Guimaraes himself is certain to be on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs, but after captaining Newcastle to their first major trophy in 70 years with last season’s 2-1 League Cup final victory over Liverpool, he appears content to stay and continue driving the Magpies’ resurgence.
newcastle league cup
Still, some outside observers would argue that no player is bigger than the club, and that cashing in on Isak for £120 million could be wiser than carrying the financial weight of his wages for another year - a move that might otherwise come across as an unnecessary show of power by the Saudi-led ownership.
What’s undeniable, however, is that all eyes will now be on Newcastle’s next Premier League clash, which is a home meeting with the champions on Monday night. Fixtures against Liverpool have long been among the division’s most thrilling encounters, but with the current turmoil as a backdrop, the latest edition could prove to be an all-time classic.