Pep Guardiola has once again spoken glowingly of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, admitting he remains an admirer of the Brazilian midfielder as Manchester City head to St James’ Park for what could prove a pivotal Premier League contest.
The City manager’s pre-match comments have added further intrigue to a fixture that has developed into one of the division’s fiercest matches, with Guimaraes often at the centre of the narrative.
The Brazilian, who has become the heartbeat of Eddie Howe’s project on Tyneside, has long been associated with a possible move to the Etihad Stadium.
Speculation intensified in the summer of 2024 when a release clause in his contract left Newcastle vulnerable to offers from Europe’s elite.
Despite that moment of uncertainty and sustained interest from major clubs, Guimaraes chose to stay, embracing a growing leadership role and accepting the captain’s armband ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
That decision has proven monumental for Newcastle. Guimaraes led the side through a landmark season, steering the Magpies back into the Champions League and playing a prominent part in their Carabao Cup triumph — the club’s first major silverware in decades.
His form did not dip domestically or internationally; the midfielder further cemented his place in the Brazil national team under Carlo Ancelotti, becoming a dependable presence in a side undergoing significant renewal.
So it came as little surprise when Guardiola singled him out again in the build-up to this weekend’s Premier League showdown.
Asked specifically about the player during his Friday press conference, Pep Guardiola praised Bruno Guimaraes as he could not hide his admiration.
He replied: “It’s not just this season, for many years, since Lyon we realised he was a special player. Newcastle make an incredible signing.
“He’s getting better and better. Always I’ve been a big fan of him.”
It was a reminder that Guardiola’s interest is not new, nor is his willingness to speak publicly about the midfielder.
The City manager has been consistent in his praise of the Newcastle captain, even during moments when the two clubs’ ambitions have collided.
Guardiola first highlighted Guimaraes’ quality while the midfielder was still emerging as a continental talent at Lyon.
But his appreciation has sharpened during the Brazilian’s Premier League evolution into one of the division’s most complete holding midfielders.
His latest comments reinforce a pattern. Before City’s FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Newcastle in 2024 — a tie the Premier League champions won 2-0 at the Etihad — Pep Guardiola praised Bruno Guimaraes in a similar style.
At that time, he went even further, declaring: “He is an exceptional holding midfielder. He is aggressive, with the ball or without the ball.
“At set pieces, he’s aggressive and is a real, complete holding midfielder since being at Lyon and now at a club who want to grow up and up. I’m sure he’s part of the project for the next years. Definitely.”
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Those words proved accurate. Guimaraes has been central to Newcastle’s upward trajectory under Howe.
Meanwhile, as City travel to St James’ Park, the fixture comes at a crucial point in the title race. Guardiola’s men, facing pressure from both Arsenal and Liverpool, have little margin for error.
St James’ Park has transformed into one of the league’s most intimidating grounds, with Newcastle’s high-tempo style and home support often unsettling visiting teams.
Guimaraes will be expected to play a pivotal role once again. His ability to control rhythm, break up play, and transition Newcastle from defence to attack has become indispensable to Howe’s blueprint.
Against City, that skill set becomes even more vital. Newcastle typically approach these fixtures with strategic discipline, often relying on Guimaraes to disrupt City’s patterns and ignite counter-attacks.
