Bruno Guimaraes talks about ambitions and expectations with Brazil and Newcastle United

Difficult to believe that Bruno Guimaraes has only started 11 competitive games so far for Newcastle United.

Such has been his impact, it feels far more than the 1,032 minutes he has played so far for NUFC, making a number of substitute appearances before his first start at Southampton in March.

That first start featured a stunning backheel volley winner and by the end of the season, five goals and an assist in the Premier League already. Considering Bruno Guimaraes scored only three goals in total for Lyon in 70+ appearances, maybe nobody more surprised than Bruno himself with his goalscoring threat.

Encouraged by Eddie Howe to get forward, Bruno Guimaraes found himself getting a goal and an assist on Friday in the half hour he was on the pitch against 1860 Munich.

The 24 year old is also enjoying his use and understanding of English developing as fast as his goal threat, everything adding up to an exciting season ahead.

Bruno Guimaraes has big ambitions and expectations with both Brazil and Newcastle United, with 2022/23 looking to be a massive season potentially on both fronts.

Edging ever closer to becoming a regular starter for his national side, the massive extra positive for Newcastle fans is that it will be early season club form that could be decisive, Bruno and his NUFC teammates having 16 Premier League games before he heads off to Qatar.

Bruno Guimaraes making big strides with his English, as well as his contribution on the pitch, speaking to the official club site:

“I’m better than before! I’m improving.

“Now, in this season, I’m trying to speak more with my teammates. I’m afraid of the correction or if I make a mistake, but I try with them. I think I’m improving.

“Joelinton is helping me a lot. My teacher, too – I am doing a class almost every day. I’m improving but the problem is the language is so difficult. English is different to Portuguese. But I think I can get it.

“I have like a book, a Brazilian English book, so I understand a lot of things and it helps me a lot, it helps me. The accent – that is more difficult!

“I’m improving with the boys and I can understand almost everything. This book slowly is helping me a lot. But it is only another step. My goal is to be fluent in the language. I know it’s only the beginning, but I am liking this moment.”

“Yes, it (his improved English) has (made it easier to follow Eddie Howe’s instructions), exactly.

“When they are speaking, they try to speak slow and this helps me a lot.

“When I arrived here, Glenn (Patterson, player liaison officer) sent me a paper with words about football on for me to try at home. This helped me, and it is fine now.

“I speak perfect French now. I speak a little Spanish, a little English now, and Portuguese. It’s nice. I always wanted to learn English because it’s so important – I know this – but it’s difficult. Step by step, I will get it.

“The English in school in Brazil… if you have money, it is easier. But when I was at school, it was so difficult, basic, you know – like ‘water’, ‘bread’, food things, but not for speaking with other people. I just started this when I signed here, and I like it.

“It’s so nice (Bruno now engaged and his fiance pregnant with their first child) . The moment is very special for me, for getting married to my wife. It’s a beautiful moment. I am so happy and so proud. I hope to do my best in my professional life too.”

“My dreams can come true. I don’t have words to speak about the World Cup because when I was a child I always dream about this moment, and it arriving. It is special.

“We have only two more games, friendly games, and after it is the World Cup. In the last years I won the Olympic Games (in 2020) and if I can win the World Cup, it can be really great and special for me. When I am sleeping, I am thinking about it!” It’s a big goal in my career.

“At Newcastle, I am living my dreams too. To play in the Premier League, it was always my dream, and here it is so special – the fans are great with me, and all the players as well. I’m happy.

“I know the expectations for the fans for this season. We are working so hard – you are here, you can prove this! We will do our best because the club needs this and the fans need a team like this. We are here to do our best and in the season, we can speak again and I hope we can speak about these things that we spoke (about) coming true. I hope for this.”