This is a tough time to be a Newcastle United fan, there is no doubt about that. You can be hopeful about the appointment of Matthias Jaissle and the signings that have been made this summer. That being said, it is not hard to understand that the goalposts have moved.
Newcastle United no longer seem to be pushing to build a winning project immediately, which had seemed the target in the first few years under this ownership. Instead, it looks like the focus is now on building something sustainable.
The target is no longer becoming the next Manchester City. Instead, it looks like Newcastle United would be happier putting together a model to resemble Brighton & Hove Albion or Bournemouth.
Alan Shearer admits unhappiness with one Newcastle United player
This has led to the departure of several key players. Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak. And now, it is only a matter of time before another name is added to that list.
Well, the move has not been officially announced yet and technically, Bruno Guimaraes is still a Newcastle United player. But we all know that is not for long. Do not be surprised if an official announcement comes from Arsenal today.
Alan Shearer has admitted his disappointment as a fan with the exit of the captain. But at the same time, while speaking from a professional point of view, he understands it. According to Newcastle World, the club legend said:
“First of all, as a fan of Newcastle who has watched him for four or five years, I’m disappointed because I’ve seen him produce magical moments.
“I’ve seen how brilliant he is (and) how he can make a difference to the team. I’ve seen him kiss the badge. I’ve seen him react to the crowd. I’ve seen him be made captain. And I’ve heard him say how much he loves the club.
“From a professional point of view, and from someone who works in football and knows how the game is, I totally get it. He’s 29 in a couple of months. He’s going to the champions. Last week, he saw his manager Eddie Howe leave. He saw Alexander Isak leave last summer then this summer he saw Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali sold. Newcastle is a very different football club to the one it was 12 or 18 months ago.
“If someone wants to leave then let them go. Bruno hasn’t done it in the wrong way, he’s done it the right way. We didn’t like what Yoane Wissa was doing at Brentford last summer and we didn’t like what Isak was doing at Newcastle.
“Every time he put on a black and white shirt, you could never complain about his attitude and professionalism. So with my professional head on, I understand why he wants to move to the champions.”
One can understand Bruno Guimaraes’ decision
As fans, it is very easy to build bonds with these players and feel that they will spend the rest of their careers at St James’ Park. But in reality, one can never forget that these are professional footballers.
Take Guimaraes, for example. He has seen his best teammates over the past twelve months. Tonali, Gordon and Isak were pretty much the core of the team.
So, it would have been very clear to him that Newcastle United’s chances of competing for trophies had dramatically decreased. In fact, there is a chance they might end up in a relegation battle next season if they do not add some quality to this squad over the summer.
On the other hand, Guimaraes was presented with the chance to join Arsenal. They are the reigning Premier League champions and were a penalty shootout away from winning the Champions League as well.
To be very honest, it is a decision that one can understand, even if it might be a bitter pill to swallow. Guimaraes will be 29 a few months down the line. This could very well have been his last chance to join a club that competes for trophies constantly.
Regardless, there is very little time to dwell on this. Newcastle United need to find a replacement for their captain as soon as possible. And it looks like a player from the Portuguese league is their top target.
READ MORE: Newcastle United’s top target to replace Guimaraes revealed
