Bruno Guimarães
Newcastle, United Kingdom – 10 21 2025: Bruno Guimaraes seen during Champions League league phase game between Newcastle United FC and SL Benfica
Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães returned to Brazil to continue his recovery from a serious thigh injury, as we covered last week.
Now, fresh details from ESPN Brazil clarify how the second phase of that process is unfolding – and how it connects to both the Brazilian national team and Carlo Ancelotti.
As previously detailed, Guimarães initially spent a short period at Atlético Mineiro’s training centre in Belo Horizonte. The Newcastle United player is recovering from a grade three tear in the posterior muscle of his left thigh, suffered on February 13th.
Doctors expect the full recovery to last up to two and a half months, although the initial estimate remains around eight weeks.
Bruno Guimarães meets Ancelotti at Brazilian FA
According to ESPN, the midfielder travelled to Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday for the next stage of treatment at Botafogo’s facilities. Before that, he went to the headquarters of the Brazilian FA, the CBF.
There, he held talks with Carlo Ancelotti and members of the national team staff during a lunch meeting. The purpose was not to set a return date. Instead, the conversation served to update the coaching staff on his condition and recovery timeline.
Bruno Guimarães will not feature in Brazil’s March friendlies against France and Croatia, scheduled for March 26th and 31st. However, those fixtures are the final matches before the World Cup squad announcement. Despite the injury, the tournament in June is not currently considered at risk.
Newcastle United player pushing for accelerated recovery
ESPN add an important detail. Bruno Guimarães believes that a dedicated rehabilitation period in Brazil could accelerate his return compared to remaining in England and following Newcastle’s standard protocol. That thinking explains his decision to stay in Brazil for around a month.
The meeting at the CBF reportedly took place in a calm atmosphere, without pressure or tension over deadlines. All parties viewed the discussion positively, as it helped reassure the player.
For Newcastle United, the key remains the same. The club have authorised each step of this Brazil-based recovery plan and continue to monitor progress closely. Guimarães has delivered nine goals and six assists in 2025-26 so far. As a result, managing this rehabilitation correctly is vital.
The headline is no longer that he is in Brazil. It is how carefully the next phase is being handled – across Newcastle, the CBF and now Botafogo.