Heading into the summer transfer window, a lot of the talk was about ‘freeing up’ Bruno Guimaraes.
The 25-year-old spent pretty much all of last season playing as Newcastle United‘s ‘number six’, acting as the defensive presence in the Magpies’ midfield three.
Bruno was in the middle of the central trio, tasked with getting the ball off the defence and launching attacks from deep.
He did it brilliantly, but there was always a feeling that he could be used better further up the pitch. During his first six months on Tyneside, Bruno had a more attacking role, and it led to him scoring five goals in 17 appearances. In contrast, he got five in 40 games last season.
It was clear that Bruno could offer more to the team, which is why Newcastle set about signing a ‘number six’.
Then Sandro Tonali arrived for £55million, and it was stated that Howe plans to use him as an ‘eight’ either side of Bruno.
It looks like the Brazilian is not going to be changing positions, and he has now spoke about what role he prefers to have in midfield.
Bruno Guimaraes prefers more attacking role
Bruno has spoke to Globo in Brazil, and was asked what his best midfield role is – is he a defensive midfielder who can burst forward, or a goalscoring number eight?
“For me, you have to know how to do both,” he said.
“Last season I played many games at Newcastle as a defensive midfielder, some as a second and in the national team I play more as a second. It’s where I prefer to play.
“It all depends on the coach, what he will propose to me, my role. I can play five, eight, the important thing is to be in the cake. I think that to be a defensive midfielder today you have to take a ball from a cart on the line and score a goal with a fish in the other area.
“For me, the most important part of football today is the midfield.”
Newcastle unlikely to make a change
Talk of ‘cake’ and ‘fish’ is probably lost in translation, but it is clear that Bruno prefers that more advanced role where he can influence things in the final third.
But he is a professional, and admits that he will do whatever the manager asks of him. Regardless, he believes he can play both roles.
That flexibility and attitude helps make Bruno such a star, and his role could change alongside Tonali. While Bruno will likely continue to be the defensive midfielder, Tonali’s presence could at least give the former Lyon man more opportunities to get forward.
We will find out when the new Premier League season kicks off on August 12th.
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